OAPSE members do important work all over the state, and we want to introduce you to some of the more than 36,000+ who are making a difference for Ohio’s children and families.

This is the latest video in our series showing our members at work and highlighting the critical roles they play in public education.

John Sindeldecker is a long-time bus driver with Buckeye Local Schools and has been a proud OAPSE member for 25 years. He is a leader in his Local 373, and is president of Eastern District.

Take a look at our short video highlighting John and the work he does for students every day. John is OAPSE. Get to know him. Get to know us.

OAPSE members do important work all over the state, and we want to introduce you to some of the more than 36,000+ who are making a difference for Ohio’s children and families.

This is another video in our series showing our members at work and highlighting the critical roles they play in public education.

Mandee Warfield is a long-time building secretary with Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools and has been a proud OAPSE member for 8 years. She is a leader in her local, serving as president and PEOPLE captain for Local 502. And Mandee is the Central District secretary.

Take a look at our short video highlighting Mandee and the work she does for students every day. Mandee is OAPSE. Get to know her. Get to know us.

By a 6-2 margin, members of the SERS board of trustees voted against OAPSE’s position and for cuts and freezes to pension cost-of-living increases. OAPSE retiree Cathy Moss and OEA retiree Beverly Woolridge voted against the COLA changes, while the remainder of the board voted against the OAPSE position and for the freezes and cuts.

OAPSE Executive Board members and activists from across Ohio attended the meeting in Columbus.

“We have been very clear about our position on these COLA cuts and freezes. Hundreds of our members rallied at SERS this summer. We called. We sent postcards. We attended board of trustee meetings, and we had numerous conversations with the trustees. Unfortunately, the SERS board of trustees ignored our members’ voices,” said OAPSE Executive Director Joe Rugola.

He stressed that the fight for fair pensions for OAPSE members is far from over.

“We want our members and retirees and SERS officials to know that this vote is just a first step in our long-term fight to protect the pension benefits of our active and retired members. We will file a lawsuit against SERS and the implementation of these COLA cuts,” Rugola said.

“For too long, Ohio retiree system boards of trustees have been making decisions based on manipulated and sometimes deceitful information presented to them by so-called experts.”

He stressed, “We will use every tool at our disposal to win this battle. OAPSE members have an average pension of less than $1,200 per month and many don’t get Social Security. The COLA cuts and freezes will be devastating, and we will not rest until we have exhausted every single option available to us,” Rugola said.

OAPSE members do important work all over the state, and we want to introduce you to some of the more than 36,000+ who are making a difference for Ohio’s children and families.

We are doing a series of short videos showing our members at work and highlighting the critical roles they play in public education.

Karen Jones is a custodian with Oregon City Schools and has been a proud OAPSE member for 17 years. She is a leader in her local, serving as treasurer and PEOPLE captain for Local 320. And Karen is the Northwest District’s executive board member.

Take a look at our short video highlighting Karen and the work she does for students every day. Karen is OAPSE. Get to know her. Get to know us.