Taking a stand for the middle class - OCSEA

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New committee hosts OCSEA retiree event A group of OCSEA retirees has recently begun meeting to recharge their mission and get retirees more involved in politics, pensions and other retiree issues. “With a record-breaking number of state workers retiring, we need to keep our retirees engaged in the fight over public services,” said Ron Alexander, who heads up the new committee and is also the Retiree Representatives on OCSEA’s statewide Board of Directors. “Because they don’t have the same restrictions under the Little Hatch Act with respect to politics, retirees are more easily mobilized and are free to work with candidates that support us,” he said. Some retirees are already getting the message that the war on public workers is far from over and, in fact, has intensified. Loretta Conkle, an OCSEA District 5 retiree, was recently featured in a local paper because of her efforts collecting signatures to get a redistrict- More than 100 retirees pack OCSEA’s Union Hall for the first OCSEA retiree luncheon. ing measure on the ballot (see pages 8-9). She did the same thing last year during the SB 5 fight. “Right now politicians rig their legislative districts so they’ll keep getting re-elected. We want the power back in the people’s hands. That way, we can keep bills like Senate Bill 5 from ever happening again,” said Conkle. Members of the OCSEA retiree committee recently hosted a luncheon to reach out and educate retirees about the ongoing battles against public workers. The committee was hoping to have 50 people attend. More than 100 retirees showed up. “This is the pilot. Based on its success, we’d like to develop events like this on a regional basis,” said Jean Fightmaster, a long time OCSEA activist and retiree from the Bureau Retirees Chair of the OCSEA Retiree Committee, Ron Alexander, kicks off the first-ever retiree luncheon. of Workers’ Compensation. “Retirees are ready for it," The OCSEA Retiree Committee luncheon was put together with donations from the local 1184 AFSCME retiree chapter ($100), District 6 ($200) and District 5 ($300). Retirees look over materials regarding changes to OPERS during a presentation at the luncheon. Members of the OCSEA Retiree Committee (from l) Tess Ide, Dave Baily, Mary Anderson and Jean Fightmaster stand to be recognized at the OCSEA retiree luncheon. Not pictured are Francis Henderson and Reita Smith. 16 Public Employee Quarterly Summer 2012
SPOTLIGHT For Next Waver Jason Brogley, Lebanon Correctional Institution Chap. 8310, fighting Senate Bill 5 last year was about more than just protecting his paycheck. “Corrections Officers work hard, we put our lives on the line every day, we deserve better than that. And if you just lie down and let people take things from you, they will win,” said Brogley. During the SB 5 fight, Brogley, his wife and their three children were heavily involved, going to Columbus every chance they got, making protest signs and organizing car pools. “I didn’t ask my kids to help out, it was totally their choice. They wanted to put stickers on their shirts and wear them to school. My youngest son would tell everyone he met to vote No on SB 5. It was a really great feeling to do that as a family and Jason Brogley and family Chapter 8310 Lebanon Correctional Institution go to those protests,” said Brogley. Brogley grew up in a union family, with many relatives working at General Motors in Youngstown. He is passionate about the union movement and wants other Next Wavers to be as well. He is active in his chapter as a steward and runs his chapter’s Facebook page. He says that there are many Next Wave-aged members at Lebanon Correctional Institution who he urges to get involved in their union. The benefits of union involvement far outweigh any obstacles that the job or obstacles management might throw at them, says Brogley. Fall 2012 Education Calendar Designed for Stewards To register for any of the following classes, call the education registration hotline at 800-266-5615, ext. 4772 and follow the recorded instructions. For a list of courses, go online at ocsea.org/education. If you’d like a class for your area and don’t see one currently scheduled on the calendar, contact Pat Hammel at 800-266-5615, ext. 2654 or phammel@ocsea.org to find out what types of classes are available or to schedule one for your area on a just-in-time basis. Once you’ve recruited 10 people to attend a class, the class will be scheduled. Designed for all Members SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER THR 20 Advanced Steward, 6-9 p.m., OCSEA, 390 Worthington Rd., Westerville – Rm. 195 TUES 9 Basic Steward Pt. 1, 6-9 p.m., Ramada Elyria, 1825 Lorain Blvd., Elyria THR 15 FMLA Basics, 6-9 p.m., Southgate Hotel, 2848 Southgate Parkway, Cambridge SAT 22 Basic Steward Pt. 1&2, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., OCSEA, 390 Worthington Rd., Westerville – Rm. 195 WED 10 Investigatory Interviews, 6-9 p.m., Howard Johnson, 1920 Roschman St., Lima SAT 17 Basic Steward Pt. 1&2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., OCSEA Headquarters, 390 Worthington Rd.,Westerville SAT 29 Steward Conference, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Hyatt Regency, 350 North High St., Columbus THR 11 Basic Steward Pt. 2, 6-9 p.m., Ramada Elyria, 1825 Lorain Blvd., Elyria MON 19 Advanced Steward, 6-9 p.m., OCSEA Headquarters, 390 Worthington Rd., Westerville TUES 16 Basic Steward Pt. 1, 6-9 p.m., OCSEA Headquarters, 390 Worthington Rd., Westerville THR 18 Basic Steward Pt. 2, 6-9 p.m., OCSEA Headquarters, 390 Worthington Rd., Westerville THR 25 SAT 27 Advanced Steward, 6-9 p.m., Ramada Elyria, 1825 Lorain Blvd, Elyria Advanced Steward, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., OCSEA Headquarters, 390 Worthington Rd., Westerville Summer 2012 Public Employee Quarterly 17
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Taking a stand for the middle class - OCSEA

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