OAPSE

AFSCME

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To: OAPSE Members

From: Executive Director Joe Rugola

Re: Federal Funding for Schools, States and Local Governments

Congress is set to take up legislation that will provide critical funding for our schools, local governments and states. Set to be drafted in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Phase IV Stimulus legislation – called the Heroes Bill — would provide at least $700 billion in funding for front-line workers like OAPSE members.

We need this money. States, local governments and schools are looking at huge deficits because more than 20 percent of American workers are laid off and not paying income taxes. We aren’t shopping as much, so sales taxes are down. And hundreds of thousands of Americans will be unable to pay their property taxes – and that’s a BIG problem for OAPSE members in Ohio who rely on property taxes for a big portion of school funding and money for libraries and programs for the disabled.

We need leaders in Washington to step up and send money to the states so we can keep providing critical services to children, families and our most vulnerable residents.

Ohio’s two U.S. Senators, Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, have expressed their public support for Phase IV Coronavirus Relief legislation.

As always, Senator Brown has been a strong voice for public workers and all front-line workers throughout this health emergency. We want to thank him for the unwavering support he has shown to OAPSE members and for championing additional stimulus funds for schools, states and local governments. Sherrod Brown truly is a friend, and we appreciate his leadership in Washington to get the funding we need. He understands that those funds will keep paying school employees, police, firefighters, nurses, and employees who provide services at boards of developmental disabilities, residential services homes, head start agencies, and community colleges. The services are vitally important – and so are the people who provide them.

We appreciate Senator Portman’s public statements about the importance of further stimulus dollars to help states, local governments and schools. Now, we need him to fight for us and for the legislation. We are calling on Senator Portman to step up and use his strong leadership in Washington to make sure the Heroes Bill gets through Congress and that the money we need gets to Ohio and our local governments and school districts.

Please help us communicate the urgency of passing the Heroes Bill.

Call Senator Rob Portman at 202-224-3353. Thank him for publicly supporting more funding for schools, states and local governments. Ask him to step up and lead the Senate in passing the Heroes Bill.

Call Senator Sherrod Brown at 202-224-2315. Thank him for his steadfast support for OAPSE members and thank him for supporting the Heroes Bill and the additional $700 billion we need to #fundthefrontlines

If you would like to write Senator Portman a letter urging him to lead the way on passing the Heroes Bill, click here.

Thank you, sisters and brothers, for your activism and your support to make sure Congress #FundstheFrontLines.

Stay safe and stay well.

 

https://oapse.org/featured/2978/

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State Officers, Executive Board on the Job

To: Our OAPSE Family

From: Your State Officers and Executive Board

Your state officers and executive board members and alternate members are sending our best to all OAPSE families as we go through the shutdown of our schools and other vital services our members provide at libraries, departments of developmental disabilities, residential services facilities, head start agencies and community colleges.

Across Ohio, thousands of OAPSE members are working – keeping our buildings sanitized and organized; preparing and delivering meals to tens of thousands of students and families; keeping our buses maintained and rolling; providing the clerical assistance and support to administrators; and helping to create and deliver remote learning. Those of us who are not working right now are doing our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus by physically distancing and staying home as much as possible.

We are proud to serve as your elected OAPSE leaders, and we are humbled by our responsibility to OAPSE members – especially at a time like this when you are stepping up and making a real difference in your communities. We salute all of you for your heroic efforts to provide critical services and stop the spread of this terrible virus.

We want to share some of the good work being done by our members all across Ohio. You can click on the links below to watch videos of what’s happening in some of our school districts. You can check out our Facebook page to see photos from around the state. And you can send in your own photos so your work can be shared far and wide. Send photos to [email protected] and remember your 6-feet physical distancing so we can post! Got to www.oapse.org for regular updates, and check us out on Twitter and Instagram.

We also want you to know that the OAPSE staff remains hard at work for you. Our field representatives and regional directors continue to assist with negotiations, grievances, and solving the day-to-day problems we face. The state office staff is on the job, keeping the union going and keeping us the strongest union in Ohio.

Executive Director Joe Rugola and the staff are in constant touch with us so we can give OAPSE members the latest information about what is happening in Ohio and nationally and how our jobs are impacted.

The union will continue to work on your behalf to solve problems from the local level all the way to Washington, where members of Congress will be taking up more legislation in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Together with our national union, AFSCME, we will keep pushing for aid to states, local governments and schools. We will work with Governor Mike DeWine and our congressional delegation to get the money we need to keep OAPSE members working and providing the critical services Ohio families need and deserve.

Your elected OAPSE leaders truly believe we are all in this together. We want you to know we will continue to stand up and speak out for you and your family – during this health crisis and always.

God Bless you and your families. Stay safe and well.

 

 

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Schools Closed Through End of Academic Year

To: OAPSE Members

From: Executive Director Joe Rugola

Re: Status of Ohio Shutdown and Impact on OAPSE Members

Today, Governor Mike DeWine announced that Ohio schools will remain closed through the end of this academic year. We have been communicating regularly with the governor, the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Department of Health and the state agencies that oversee the work of OAPSE members across the state. As we continue these productive discussions, we will keep our focus on your safety and protecting your jobs. We appreciate the governor’s leadership during this crisis and his work to include our union in finding solutions to the difficult problems we face as a result of this national health emergency.

The governor has made clear that he shares our view that when staff and students return to schools – perhaps in the fall of this year – your safety is the top priority. We have had very productive and respectful discussions, and we all want to make sure that real plans are in place to protect staff and students and that protective gear is available to OAPSE members to stop exposure of COVID-19.

At this point, we have no indication there will be an interruption of pay and benefits for our members who remain employed. For those members who have been laid off, information about expanded unemployment benefits is available here, including information about the enhanced benefits which include an additional $600 per week through July.

In coordination with our International union, OAPSE will keep pressing Congress to pass legislation that will provide critical funding to schools and state and local governments. Governor DeWine is working with us to persuade the Ohio congressional delegation to make that funding a priority and get it to the states quickly. Of course, we will update you as soon as we have information about our progress.

We remain on the job for you, and we will be here throughout this health emergency and beyond. As always, if you have questions, please contact your local president or field representative. Stay well and stay safe.

Visit our facebook page for up-to-date information.

 

 

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Members-Only College Benefits Just Got Even Better

Members-Only College Benefit Just Got Even Better!

More than 1,000 OAPSE members have taken advantage of the free and reduced-cost college program through Eastern Gateway Community College, and some have even graduated!

Still others are enrolled at Central State University, where another huge member benefit is available. And now more than ever, these free and reduced-cost programs are a big deal. You can find all the information about all the programs offered by clicking here.

And pay special attention to the information below for new information about enhanced opportunities!

Because of the current economic and health uncertainty facing many of our members, students who enroll through OAPSE at Central State University this summer can complete their degree under the same terms of Free College, with no out of pocket cost, as long as they are continuously enrolled.  All new and continuing students who are enrolled this summer will be eligible for a Free College last-dollar scholarship, which allows students to complete their degree (through graduation) with no out-pocket-cost for tuition, fees, or e-books.

Students can finish their teacher education or business administration bachelor’s degree affordably and safely.

If you are unemployed, furloughed or laid off, don’t worry — you and your extended family members are still eligible to enroll with no cost.

Summer classes begin May 18, 2020.

Get started by calling 888-897-9671 or enrolling online. Visit lowcostdegrees.org.

* Students may enroll part-time, but continuous enrollment is required.  Students must complete FAFSA and the financial aid process.

 

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Scholarship Winners to be Selected May 9

Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, the OAPSE/AFSCME Memorial Scholarship Committee has delayed the selection of the 2020 winners until May 9. This will allow committee members to take the time needed to review each of the 165 applications and to select those who will receive the $2,500 scholarships.

Winners will be notified after May 9, so stay tuned!