Historic Ohio Contract Agreement Ratified

by Clyde Weiss  |  December 16, 2011

Just one month after helping defeat a state law stripping public service workers’ collective bargaining rights, members of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11 overwhelmingly ratified a new contract, demonstrating that unions can work together with states to solve economic problems.

The new contract retains nearly all provisions of the earlier contract. Dropped were furlough days and freezes on personal leave and step increases.

The overwhelming defeat in November of Senate Bill 5 – preserving collective bargaining for Ohio’s public service workers – is credited with encouraging the state to reach a quick contract agreement with OCSEA, whose negotiators sat down with state officials after the election to work out an agreement for a new three-year contract. In an unprecedented move, the state agreed to extend the current contract for three years.

“Our negotiating team understood the difficult economic recovery this state continues to face and made the decision to forgo any wage increases,” said OCSEA Pres. Christopher Mabe. He added that the contract “is further evidence that state employees are problem-solvers and that they are committed to moving forward in a way that is positive and constructive for the citizens of Ohio. We have shared and continue to share in the sacrifices.”

“Our members wanted us to retain those benefits we currently have and we did that,” noted OCSEA Sec.-Treas. Kathy Stewart. “This agreement continues the 15 percent employee premium share of health care, maintaining step increases and an education benefit.”

“The citizens of Ohio voted overwhelmingly to give us back our seat at the table,” said OCSEA Vice Pres. Kelvin Jones. “They understood that tearing down middle class workers is not the answer to the state’s problems. This agreement proves that collective bargaining works and that frontline state employees want to move forward in a way that benefits us all.”