Taking a stand for the middle class - OCSEA

Women's Conference Celebrates 30 years
OCSEA’s WAC
WOMEN
BUILDING
WOMEN
Retiree and founding WAC member, Jean Fightmaster, gives a rousing
speech on the 30 th anniversary of the WAC Conference. “You would not
be here if it weren’t for the ones who came before you.”
OCSEA members came together in early June to celebrate
Women Building Women at the 30 th Women’s Action
Committee Conference.
“Women and politics" was a major theme. OCSEA’s Director of
Governmental Affairs, Emerald Hernandez, called 2012 “The
Year of the Woman” and urged all to make politicians earn their
vote. Catherine Turcer, from Voters First, talked about the redistricting
amendment and holding politicians accountable for their
actions. OAPSE President JoAnn Johntony spoke about women’s
rights in the workplace.
Keynote speaker Laura Reyes, recently-elected AFSCME
Secretary-Treasurer, spoke about her personal journey as a mother
and a worker. She urged her union sisters to make a difference at
the ballot box and at the bargaining table.
Special guest, retiree Jean Fightmaster, gave a powerful speech
on the history of women in OCSEA. Fightmaster was a founding
member of the WAC Conference, established the same year OCSEA
members won collective bargaining.
AFSCME Int'l Sec.-Treas. Laura Reyes encourages members
to make a difference at the ballot box and bargaining table.
Barbara Thomas introduces her nine-year-old granddaughter
Brooklyn, who gave a speech about bullying. While writing
the speech, Brooklyn asked her grandmother, “Did you know
Kasich is bullying you?”
(Right) Ohio
Voters First Chair
Catherine Turcer
answers questions
after her speech on
redistricting.
(Below) Conference attendees at
dinner on Saturday night.
20 Public Employee Quarterly Summer 2012