As many OAPSE members are aware, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed legal action over the issue of transportation in Columbus City Schools.

Because this dispute could affect our members in Columbus, and in school districts across Ohio, OAPSE has sent a letter to Attorney General Yost outlining our position on his actions.

All of us know that almost all of the problems related to student transportation in Ohio are caused by the shortage of school bus drivers.

The letter OAPSE sent to Attorney General Yost is below. OAPSE will continue to track this situation as it moves forward.

Lima City Schools OAPSE Locals 137, 306, and 443 are starting the new school year with a HUGE WIN, that includes better wages for all and much more!

In February the Locals started this negotiation cycle with all new Local Presidents (#137 – Kenny Poling, #306 – Heather Vermillion, #443 – Valarie Bodine), new negotiation team members (Derrick Hurley, Michelle Starr, Malinda Cole), and a new Field Representative (Dave Duhamel).

The negotiation team focused on team building, contract language, and prioritizing the needs of the entire bargaining unit. As a result the negotiation team came together with everything they needed to fight for all bargaining unit members. Once at the table, both sides worked together to address issues that would benefit everyone. The end result was the biggest wage increases for all classifications EVER! Heather Vermillion, Local 306 President and Executive Board Alternate from NWC District, was overjoyed by the whole process this time around. “I could not be happier for our bargaining team and every Lima City Schools OAPSE member. Seeing the smiles, hearing the positive words, and the connections made due to this negotiation and ratification is the picture of being in a STRONG UNION!” Vermillion exclaimed.

Many conversations among members have started about what can be looked at for the next negotiation cycle already. It is never too early to start. Watch out Lima City Schools in 2026 and OAPSE Locals across the state. Solidarity WINS and we are GROWING!

Together We Fight! Together We Win!

Together We Fight! Together We Win!

Today, Senator Sherrod Brown, Chair of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, held a field hearing for S. 597, his bill to repeal the unfair Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

OAPSE members, and public sector workers from across Ohio, were in the crowd to show their support for the bill and a few people were able to testify for the record. One of today’s speakers was Barb Ward, OAPSE State Executive Board Member from Southeast District and a special needs bus driver from Fairland Local Schools. Barb is one of the thousands of OAPSE members affected by the GPO and WEP laws that unfairly cut earned Social Security benefits to public sector workers in states like Ohio.

Barb was able to tell her story on the record to Senator Brown and the hundreds in attendance. Barb will be retiring in August and due to the GPO and WEP she will see her Social Security survivor benefit cut by roughly $1,600 a month. This is devastating to Barb and the almost 3 million people affected by GPO and WEP in the United States.

OAPSE and AFSCME have been pushing for repeal of the GPO and WEP for decades and we’re closer than ever before. Thanks to support from allies like Sherrod Brown and impactful testimony from members like Barb, S. 597 now has 59 co-sponsors! The companion bill in the U.S. House, H.R. 82, has 322 co-sponsors. That is the most support for the repeal of the GPO and WEP ever!

Our work is not done though. We will continue to push for full repeal of the GPO and WEP until every OAPSE member and public sector worker retires receiving the entire benefit they earned and the respect they deserve!