​**IMPORTANT**

​

2024 - 2027 OCSEA Contract
 

Return to Office Update - Union Continues Labor/Management Engagement on RTO, Fights to Uphold Contract

March 13, 2025
 

Union Continues Labor/Management Engagement on RTO, Fights to Uphold Contract

OCSEA Staff Representatives and chapter leaders continue to be actively engaged with state agencies through labor management meetings to work out policies regarding Return to Office that are fair and do not violate the union contract. If you have yet to receive any directive on RTO, particularly given the EO referenced March 17 deadline, contact your local union leadership or Staff Representative immediately for guidance.

Article 13.17 of the OCSEA Contract on telework/remote and hybrid work deems labor/management an appropriate avenue for pursuing addresses on matters related to RTO. The union agrees that this continues to be the best method for moving forward on this issue.

Throughout these labor/management meetings, the union has maintained its argument that the RTO executive order has resulted in a significant change to the terms and conditions of the employment of our members.  "For years, even before the covid pandemic, state employees have been working remotely with dedication and remarkable efficiency. We are determined to fight to uphold our collective bargaining agreement,” said OCSEA President Chris Mabe.

While the union is committed to work with agencies as they implement RTO policies, as has been the case to date, the union maintains a hardline that state agencies must adhere to the contract. This includes ensuring that individuals eligible for exemptions or exceptions to the policy should be provided with that benefit.

If labor/management conversations break down, the union will pursue alternative paths, including filing grievances, which it is prepared to do in all impacted agencies. Please note, all grievances, either by chapter leaders or individuals, should be filed through the OCSEA Staff Representative to ensure that the correct grievance process is being followed.

The union’s statewide class-action grievance on RTO, although denied by the State of Ohio in the first step, will continue through the grievance process per the collective bargaining agreement.

Additionally, union leaders at the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services continue to pursue its agency-specific grievance, which is currently at Step 2 in the process. The Union argues that the agency's RTO policy is in violation of the ODJFS agency-specific agreement (Appendix Q) of the collective bargaining agreement because this policy was developed without forming a telework committee with the union.

​

​

New Membership Card Signatures

Please visit OCSEA.org and log into your account to sign a new membership card.  If you don't have an account, you can sign up for one and sign your new membership card.  When you sign up and provide your personal email address, you will receive all the latest information regarding our union directly from OCSEA.

​

​

Chapter 2599 Christmas Party

Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Berwick Manor, 3250 Refugee Road, Columbus, OH 43232

​

​

• Affiliation Meeting Dates and Locations

• OCSEA - AFSCME News Updates​

​