OAPSE

AFSCME

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Happy Labor Day! Unions Impact ALL Workers

Today, we celebrate American workers. And we celebrate labor unions, who make a real difference in the lives of all working families.

In Ohio, more than 13 percent of workers belong to unions, including the 34,000 who are members of OAPSE and are sticking with their union! We know that union workers have higher wages, better benefits and stronger retirements.

In fact, according to the Economic Policy Institute, “unionized workers earn on average 11.2% more in wages than nonunionized peers (workers in the same industry and occupation with similar education and experience). Unionized Black workers are paid 13.7% more than their nonunionized peers, while unionized Hispanic workers are paid 20.1% more than their nonunionized peers. White workers represented by unions are paid 8.7% more than their nonunionized peers.

The EPI also reports that 94% of workers covered by a union contract have access to employer-sponsored health benefits, compared with just 68% of nonunion workers and that 91% of workers covered by a union contract have access to paid sick days, compared with 73% of nonunion workers.

And, of course, higher wages mean more robust retirement benefits after a lifetime of work.

Americans are increasingly seeing the value of unions and what workers can do when they have a strong voice on the job.

A new Gallup survey shows that labor unions have their highest approval rating – 65 percent – since 2003.

And membership in labor unions has remained steady in recent years, even with comprehensive campaigns to limit workers’ ability to join them and the rise of groups like the “Freedom Foundation” which are backed by the Koch brothers and big corporations with the mission of crushing unions and the power they bring workers.

The positive view of unions is further driven by the contributions they make to society as a whole. Terri Gerstein, director of the State and Local Enforcement Project at the Harvard Labor and Worklife Program, explores the ways unions impact communities in her new piece for NBC news think. You can find that here.

So, as you celebrate Labor Day and the dignity of work, celebrate your role in strengthening your workplace, your community and your country.

Happy Labor Day!

 

 

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OAPSE Stands up to Unfair Treatment at Oregon City Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         

UNION FOR WORKERS AT OREGON CITY SCHOOLS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO ALERT COMMUNITY ABOUT SECRET MEETINGS AND LAYOFFS OF 122 BUS DRIVERS, LIBRARIANS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, CAFETERIA WORKERS AND MONITORS

The union for 167 workers at Oregon City Schools is kicking off a public awareness campaign centered on actions by Superintendent Hal Gregory and the school board to lay off the district’s bus drivers, librarians, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers and monitors. The campaign will include paid media and other vehicles to spotlight the layoffs and lack of transparency by the administration and school board.

Gregory and the board of education held a secret meeting Monday night to vote for the layoffs. Those affected make an average of $26,610 per year. No highly paid administrators will be laid off. Gregory, Assistant Superintendent Dean Sandwisch and Treasurer Jane Fruth all make six figures. They will keep their jobs and their salaries.

“These front-line, essential employees do critical work that impacts students every day. They want to work. They have asked to do anything they can to help the district get ready to reopen school buildings for in-person learning. But Gregory, Fruth and the board have turned their backs on them. They can’t be bothered to come up with a plan that keeps people working until we go back to school fully,” said Dave Duhamel, field representative for OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4.

Many of the cafeteria workers do not even make enough to qualify for unemployment. These are the same front-line employees who have continued to prepare food for families throughout the district. These families have counted on those meals during the COVID health emergency.

Duhamel said the union wanted the district to consider the SharedWork Ohio program that would keep employees working and receiving pay and benefits.

“Treasurer Fruth basically told us it was too much work to research and implement that program. We think these employees and the vital work they do is worth the effort,” he said.

Duhamel stressed that most of the members of Local 320 live in the district.

“They have strong ties to this community. They go to church here. Many went to school here. Their children go to school here. They pay taxes in Oregon and they support businesses here. Laying off 100 people in this town will be devastating financially.”

He also noted that Gregory, Sandwisch and Fruth all make six figures and all live outside the school district.

The bottom line, he said, is that critical decisions are being made in secret without the opportunity for district employees and the parents of Oregon students to have input.

“Parents just protested in favor of opening schools. And now, the district is laying off workers who could help make reopening happen faster. It just makes no sense – particularly when you take into account that the district will not save very much through layoffs. That’s because they will be paying all unemployment costs.”

Gregory has rejected the union’s efforts to meet and come to a reasonable solution that will keep workers from being laid off and will allow the administration some flexibility in work assignments.

“We are ready right now to come to the table and work this out. Let’s stop the secret meetings, have full transparency and get people working for our students and families,” Duhamel said.

 

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OAPSE at the Table For School Reopenings

In the weeks since the governor and the Ohio Department of Education released the Education Reset/Restart Plan, it has become clear that individual school districts are on their own to figure out what to do in the fall.

Other than mandating that staff and some students wear masks, the governor and ODE left it up to each of Ohio’s 604 school districts to develop a plan to reopen schools in whatever form works in each community.

Some districts are using the governor’s color-coded map to guide them. Others are using different criteria and data. Still others are going full steam ahead and planning for a full reopen – at least that is their plan now

Because leadership on reopening is coming at the local level, it is critical that OAPSE local unions are involved in the ongoing discussions and planning for getting students and staff safely back in our classrooms.

Across the state, OAPSE regional directors and field representatives are involved in discussions between our locals and their employers. Our priorities remain the safety of our members and the students they serve and the job security of the 34,000 workers we represent. If your local union has not yet engaged OAPSE professional staff in those discussions, please encourage your officers to do so. Work schedules, safety equipment and supplies and job duties are all topics which should be addressed before reopening.

The first congressional coronavirus aid bill – the CARES Act – provided money to states for schools to use directly on coronavirus issues. Some of that money has started to flow to local school districts, who are using it for improved ventilation, PPE, sanitation and deep cleaning and improved access to the internet for remote learning.

But it is nowhere near enough to make up for what schools and local governments lost because of the coronavirus.

The HEROES Act – passed by the U.S. House of Representatives TWO MONTHS AGO – includes money for front-line workers and the unemployed, states, local governments and schools. The U.S. Senate is now debating an aid package which must include that funding if schools are to function for the kids we serve. It is critical that we weigh in and ask Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Rob Portman to support the HEROES Act.

You can reach Sen. Sherrod Brown at 888-896-6446

You can reach Sen. Rob Portman at 800-205-6446

You can send a letter by clicking here.

Ask your U.S. Senators to pass the HEREOS Act so we can get the funding we need to go back to school safely.

 

 

 

 

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Register Now for OAPSE Conference Tele-Town Hall

ATTENTION CONFERENCE DELEGATES:

Due to health regulations impacting the gathering of large groups, the 77th OAPSE Conference has been rescheduled as a Tele-Town Hall, which will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 8. The Tele-Town Hall format will allow OAPSE to hold our convention with participation from local unions across the state. We hope those eligible to participate in the free event will do so.

As an Elected Conference Delegate*, you must register through the link below and provide the required information. DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS JULY 27.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE to see the letter that was emailed and mailed to OAPSE leadership.

Just before the 9 a.m. start of the Tele-Town Hall on August 8th, delegates will receive a phone call on the number they have provided and will choose the option of joining the event.

Participants will hear from the OAPSE state officers, Executive Director Joe Rugola, and invited special guests. Associate Director Gary Martin and Director of Political Action and Legislative Affairs Randy Weston will update members about the state of the governor’s plan to reopen schools and how the OAPSE staff is assisting local unions with shaping the restart of schools in their districts. CLICK HERE to view the tentative agenda.

We expect the Tele-Town Hall – which will include the opportunity for questions from callers – to be completed no later than noon.

*Elected Delegates are members of the state executive board, district officers, local presidents, and those who were/will be elected or appointed by their local union.

 

 

 

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Ohio Education Reset/Restart Plan Released

Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Education have issued their Reset/Restart Education plan. The plan lays out recommendations and aspiration guidelines but essentially leaves major decisions about how and when to reopen schools to local districts.

Because critical decisions will be made at the district and even the school building level, it is essential for OAPSE locals to be involved in discussions about reopening our schools.

We have been communicating with our professional staff, and they understand that our first priority is your job security and the maintenance of health and safety standards in your workplaces. We urge you to work with your field representatives and regional directors to have meaningful input as your school districts implement their reopening plans.

In coordination with our International union, OAPSE will keep pressing Congress for bipartisan action to pass the Heroes Act, that will provide critical funding to schools and state and local governments. This legislation has passed the House, and the Senate is due to take it up in late July.

OAPSE has stood with you during our national health emergency – working to keep our members on the job and continuing to get your pay and benefits. And your union will be with you as we navigate our new challenge of making sure we reopen schools so that students, staff and families are safe.

Especially during uncertain times like these, it is critical to have a union that will fight for you. It’s more important than ever that you and your coworkers don’t have to go it alone.

You may have been contacted by out of state groups like the so-called “Freedom Foundation” and the “Buckeye Institute.” These billionaire-funded shady operations are using this crisis to try to persuade OAPSE members to drop out of the union.

It’s the biggest threat to workers since Senate Bill 5. They tried to destroy your voice with Senate Bill 5, and now they’re back – during an International health crisis – to try and weaken your union and gut your negotiated contracts.

They are asking your employer for your personal information and data mining your employment records, your pension information and even your workers’ compensation records so they can undermine the union and silence your voice at work.

This is not the time for a weaker union. This is the time to stand together and be a strong presence in your workplace. Now is the time to stick with your union.

Take a look at our flyer here more information about what to do if you are contacted.A

You can find the Reset/Restart documents here.

And click on the video below for a video message.