Ohio Public Employees
Health Care Workers With the Stillwater Center in Dayton Call for Improved Safety Measures, Pandemic Protocols, and COVID19 Response
On Wednesday, August 12th, the Ohio Department of Health reported a total of 6 residents and 15 staff members testing positive with COVID19. Healthcare Union Members With the Stillwater Center Say COVID19 Related Infectious Disease Protocols and Safety Measures Must Improve to Protect Residents and Staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, August 13th, 2020
Contact: Joshua Norris at 877-419-7348
DAYTON, Ohio – Workers with the Stillwater Center in Dayton are speaking out about safety protocols as the COVID19 pandemic continues. Workers with the Stillwater Center provide health care and support services to clients with disabilities.
Local media in Dayton first reported a positive case at the Stillwater Center on June 22nd. Staff members who are members of SEIU District 1199 say that failure to adhere to sound protocols at the facility increases the risk of additional spread among staff and residents.
“Workers with the Stillwater Center have a Union, which means that they have a voice on the job and the ability to speak out for themselves and residents,” said Josh Norris, an Executive Vice President with SEIU District 1199. “These workers care tremendously about their work. It’s important that every measure possible is taken and adhered in order to prevent additional positive cases.”
Workers with the Stillwater Center have relayed concerns to the Union and Stillwater management, which include the need for additional quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID19 among staff, the ability to access and use N95 masks (instead of KN95), and instances in which there have been confirmed COVID19 positive cases but insufficient notice given to employees.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, as of August 5th, one resident at the facility and seven staff members had contracted COVID19. In the most recent update from the Ohio Department of Health on August 12th, 6 residents and 15 staff members have now tested positive for COVID19. SEIU District 1199 represents over 30 workers with the Stillwater Center, in addition to health care and social service workers across West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Standing United for Nursing Home PPE
Health Care Workers With the Stillwater Center in Dayton Call for Improved Safety Measures, Pandemic Protocols, and COVID19 Response
Healthcare Union Members With the Stillwater Center Say COVID19 Related Infectious Disease Protocols and Safety Measures Must Improve to Protect Residents and Staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 10th, 2020
Contact: Joshua Norris at (877) 419-7348
DAYTON, Ohio – Workers with the Stillwater Center in Dayton are speaking out about safety protocols as the COVID19 pandemic continues. Workers with the Stillwater Center provide health care and support services to clients with disabilities.
Local media in Dayton first reported a positive case at the Stillwater Center on June 22nd. Staff members who are members of SEIU District 1199 say that failure to adhere to sound protocols at the facility increases the risk of additional spread among staff and residents.
“Workers with the Stillwater Center have a Union, which means that they have a voice on the job and the ability to speak out for themselves and residents,” said Josh Norris, an Executive Vice President with SEIU District 1199. “These workers care tremendously about their work. It’s important that every measure possible is taken and adhered in order to prevent additional positive cases.”
Workers with the Stillwater Center have relayed concerns to the Union, which include the need for additional quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID19 among staff, the ability to access and use N95 masks (instead of KN95), and instances in which there have been confirmed COVID19 positive cases but insufficient notice given to employees.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, as of August 5th, one resident at the facility and seven staff members have contracted COVID19. A member with facility reports that several additional residents and workers have also now tested positive. SEIU District 1199 represents over 30 workers with the Stillwater Center, in addition to health care and social service workers across West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Social Justice Committee Elections
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
The nomination process for the Social Justice Steering Committee has now closed. A listing with all candidates can be found at this link.
All members in good standing, including retiree chapter members, are encouraged to participate and attend the bi-annual Social Justice Activist meetings. If you have questions, please contact me at (216) 246-8772.
In Solidarity,
Samara Knight – Executive Vice President
Civic Engagement and Community Outreach
Standing Together for a Relief Bill for All Working Families
It has been two months since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act. Working people have been waiting for relief in this crisis. With inaction from U.S. Senate Republicans, pandemic related unemployment assistance is set to expire on July 31st.
The U.S. Senate Republican proposal is not the rescue package that is needed. That’s why I am encouraging you to call 844-944-1556. When you are connected, ask your U.S. Senator to pass a strong economic relief bill that includes the important measures found within the Heroes Act. Tell your U.S. Senator that pandemic unemployment assistance must be extended.
Workers across Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, have been providing vital services and support in this crisis. Many families have felt the economic distress caused by this pandemic firsthand. It is more important than ever that workers make their voices heard. Together, we will continue to speak out for relief for all working families.
In Solidarity,
Becky Williams – President
SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Advanced Grievance Chair Training (Columbus)
An Advanced Grievance Chair Training will be held this August in Columbus. The training is a great resource and will help members develop the knowledge and tools needed to fight back and win at work.
The Advanced Grievance Chair Training is designed for Grievance Chairs, Delegates and Executive Board Members, who have taken the Basic Grievance Chair Training. Face coverings or masks will be required. Social distancing guidelines will be applied. The meeting space will be sanitized.
Location: SEIU District 1199 Office at 1395 Dublin Road in Columbus, Ohio.
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Time: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Please bring a copy of your union contract. Contact your administrative organizer for lost time eligibility. Register online with the form on this page or with your organizer by phone or email. We are stronger together.
Free College Programs for Union Members
Members with SEIU District 1199 now have more options for free college programs. Members and their eligible family members can utilize programs with Eastern Gateway Community College and Central State University, which are both a part of the State of Ohio’s higher education system. There’s no cost for tuition, fees, or e-books. These programs are available anywhere and are regionally accredited
Once a student has 60 credit hours, they can transfer to Central State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in the degree programs listed. This benefit is open to members in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
There will be three informational sessions over Zoom for members with SEIU District 1199 in coordination with Eastern Gateway Community College. We have heard from many members that this program may be especially beneficial now.
Register for an SEIU informational session:
• Monday, July 20 @ 10:00 AM EST (Register)
• Tuesday, July 21 @ 3:00 PM EST (Register)
• Wednesday, July 22 @ 7:00 PM EST (Register)
Though we can’t ensure that you will be able to register in time, if you are not a member of SEIU District 1199, you can sign a membership card online. Eastern Gateway Community College has offered guidance that furloughed or laid off union members and their families are also eligible.
In Solidarity,
Becky Williams – President
SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Basic Grievance Chair Training in Columbus
What do I need to know to be an effective Delegate? What is just cause for discipline and what standards does the boss have to meet? How do I prepare a case? Learn how to win at work!
The Basic Grievance Chair Training is designed for Grievance Chairs, Delegates, and Executive Board Members.
Face coverings will be required. Social distancing guidelines will be applied. The meeting space will be sanitized.
Location: SEIU District 1199 Office at 13000 Shaker Boulevard
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Time: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Please bring a copy of your union contract. Contact your administrative organizer for lost time eligibility. The deadline to register in June 29, 2020. We are stronger together.
Nursing Home Worker Vigils – June 18th
Addressing the needs of nursing home workers – Black, white, and brown – on the frontlines requires us to move beyond business as usual and come together as a nation. Our government must act with urgency.
On Thursday, June 18th, at 4PM, nursing home workers will stand together in multiple cities to reflect on lives lost and speak out for badly needed policy reforms and industry changes. Workers, local leaders, and community members will begin to gather at 3:30pm. Candlelight vigils will be held at the following locations:
| Cleveland City Hall 601 Lakeside Avenue East Cleveland, Ohio 44114 |
Cincinnati City Hall 801 Plum Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 |
| Huntington City Hall 800 5th Avenue Huntington, West Virginia 25701 |
Pomeroy Village Hall 660 East Main Street Pomeroy, Ohio 45769 |
| Toledo City Hall 640 Jackson Street Toledo, Ohio 43604 |
Youngstown City Hall 26 South Phelps Street Youngstown, Ohio 44503 |
Together, we will speak out for worker protections and quality care.
2020 Member Scholarship Program
Who is eligible?
All SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH members in good standing and their immediate family members are eligible.
What are the requirements?
You must have been accepted or currently enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year educational institution or technical school and actively enrolled in a degree, post bachelor’s degree or certification program.
You must be enrolled for a minimum of five (5) credit hours in a course required or related to the degree or certification.
You and your immediate family member(s) are eligible if you have been a member in good standing of SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH for at least two years prior to the application deadline.
How do I apply?
Complete scholarship eligibility criteria, requirements, and applications:
• SEIU 1199 Scholarship Form
• SEIU 1199 Scholarship FAQ
Members may also obtain an application packet including eligibility criteria information and an application by calling the Member Resource Center hotline at 1-877-419-SEIU (7348).
The application process is now open for 2020. The deadline for applications is September 1st.
• Scholarship Recipient List – 2019
• Scholarship Recipient List – 2018
• Sign a Membership Card (must be a member in good standing for 2 years)
Applications may be submitted by email to scholarships@seiu1199.org or by mail to:
SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Member Resource Center
Attention: Scholarships
1395 Dublin Road
Columbus, Ohio 43215
2020 District Officer and Executive Board Elections: Announcement of Election Results by Acclamation
• 2020 District Officer and Executive Board Elections: Announcement of Election Results by Acclamation. The announcement is available here.
• Contested Elections. A contested position is a position in which the number of nominees for the position(s) exceeded the number of available position(s). The list of eligible candidates for contested positions is available at this link.
A list of candidates and schedule of election will be mailed to all members in early July.
Basic Grievance Chair Training in Cleveland
What do I need to know to be an effective Delegate? What is just cause for discipline and what standards does the boss have to meet? How do I prepare a case? Learn how to win at work!
The Basic Grievance Chair Training is designed for Grievance Chairs, Delegates, and Executive Board Members. Face coverings or masks will be required. Social distancing guidelines will be applied. The meeting space will be sanitized.
Location: SEIU District 1199 Office at 13000 Shaker Boulevard in Cleveland
Date: Wednesday, June 17th, 2020
Time: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Please bring a copy of your union contract. Contact your administrative organizer for lost time eligibility. Register online with the form on this page or with your organizer by phone or email. Registration for this event has now closed. We are stronger together.
“Don’t Leave Library Workers Out of the Library Narrative.” (Library Journal)
Lorain Public Library Members Negotiate New Contract That Ensures Quality Services
Members with the Lorain Public Library System recently bargained a new contract that will ensure the quality provision of services for the duration of the agreement. Members from many backgrounds stood together for this new contract and they are deeply committed to their work. Like other public library members of the Union, they do this work because of the important role that libraries have in our communities.
Negotiations were open to all members, with many wearing buttons – sessions were later held online. When negotiations started before the pandemic, one bargaining session lasted until 1AM in the morning.
The new contract includes the following improvements:
• Wage Increases. The contract includes wages increases that total 8% over three years. These wage increases recognize the work of the dedicated staff despite concerns about the Public Library Fund.
• Minimum Staffing Language. The contract sets a minimum level of staffing. This was important to the bargaining committee and will ensure safety for the public and chapter members.
• Improved Bereavement Leave. Language was improved in this area.
• New Advancement Opportunity. A new job title was created that will increase pay for many members with the library system.
• Active Shooter Training. This training will now be offered to bargaining unit members but will not be mandatory.
• Annual Fire and Tornado Drills. Such drills will help ensure that library staff have the knowledge and ability to assist the public, if needed.
Many chapter members have decades of experience but they were also joined for bargaining by rising chapter members who are new to the library system. Members with the Lorain Public Library System are united by their understanding of the importance of library services.
Solidarity News – May 2020
Member News and Grievance Victories
● Southern Ohio Hospital Member Granted Significant Settlement. A member was a part of a job training program to become an OB Scrub Tech when management decided to cancel the program. The member contacted the Union because she was employed as a trainee when the decision was made. The Union and member were able to secure a $5,000 settlement as compensation.
● ResCare Member in Cabell County Receives Important Work Documents. A member with ResCare in West Virginia had been trying to get important work documents from management for weeks and had not been successful. The documents were needed for an application related to one of his family members. The member contacted the Union and by the end of the day, the Union was able to get a meeting time established with ResCare to receive the needed documents.
● Bellefaire JCB Members Stand Together For Safety. Members with Bellefaire JCB, a service provider in Cleveland, have been standing together as Union members and co-workers to ensure workplace safety in relation to the current pandemic. Through their Union, these members are speaking out and raising critical health and safety issues.
● ResCare Member Issued $2,000 in Back Pay. A member with ResCare moved to a different worksite but her pay was not updated. The member did not receive a $0.30 increase that she was owed and even after her rate was increased, she was not issued a payment for the back wages that were due under the terms of the contract. Working with the Union, the member has now received the retroactive pay that she had earned, which totaled approximately $2,000.
● Consumer Support Services of Trumbull County Members Unite for Better Working Conditions. Several group home members with CSS Trumbull recently gathered signatures and wrote a letter to management to address unfair treatment in the workplace and issues with client care. As a result of their collective efforts, their manager was removed.
Member Resource Center Update
The Member Resource Center provides assistance each day to a substantial number of members across West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. Whether you need a copy of your contract, assistance contacting Union staff, or advice on how to file a grievance, representatives with the Member Resource Center are standing by to assist members each Monday through Friday. “Your Member Resource Center Has Your Back!”
College Programs for Union Members
SEIU District 1199 offers discounts for members and eligible family members through arrangements with colleges. These programs include a range of benefits with Columbia Southern University, Southern New Hampshire University, Central State University, and Eastern Gateway Community College.
Membership with SEIU District 1199 provides access to the member benefit programs detailed below. If are not yet a dues paying member, sign a membership card at this link.
Ohio’s Eastern Gateway Community College. Eastern Gateway offers a free online Associate’s Degree college benefit for members and retirees, in addition to eligible family members. If you live near Youngstown or Steubenville, you can also can participate in this program and take classes on campus.
Ohio’s Central State University. Union Plus, one of your Union’s member benefit programs, has partnered with Central State University in Dayton, Ohio. Central State University is now offering a program for Bachelor’s Degrees for members and eligible family members. This program is available online at a reduced cost or low/no cost (e.g. depending on grants). The program is open to students with an Associate’s Degree or 60 credit hours of coursework in a related major. Additionally, students who have a degree from Eastern Gateway Community College can now transfer into the Bachelor’s Degree program at Central State University.
Southern New Hampshire University. SNHU offers Bachelor’s Degrees and Associate’s Degrees for $3,000 a year for members and eligible family members.
Columbia Southern University. Columbia Southern offers Associate’s Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees, Mater’s Degrees, and Doctoral Degrees. SEIU District 1199 has a tuition discount agreement for members.
If you need assistance with member benefits, you can always contract your Member Resource Center. “Your Member Resource Center Has Your Back!”
Letter: Put Workers First, Not a Blank Check for CEOs
My job has always been to provide care and protect others from germs, viruses, and diseases at the nursing home where I work. Every day, my co-workers and I do everything that we can for our residents.
A virus as deadly as COVID-19 is different though and I worry about bringing it home. As I travel to and from work, I sense that other people feel the same way that I do. Some would love to stay home but who would provide the critical care that is needed for the residents where we work?
Congress has passed multiple bills in response to the COVID-19 crisis, but so far they have fallen short of providing the support we need. Frontline workers still lack needed personal protective equipment, sufficient sick leave, and the wages that we deserve. Many workers in my area and some of my Union brothers and sisters have been laid off and are unsure of how to cover the bills.
Big corporations and many companies are doing just fine and others are getting relief funding. At the same time, our public services — like our schools, libraries, and health care system — are all at-risk.
Join with me and send a letter to demand that we get the personal protective equipment that we need. Second, call Congress at (877) 851-2521 and tell them that they must protect all workers.
If we stand together and demand better now, we can not only protect all workers and come back from this tragedy, but ensure fairness for us all as we move forward together.
In Solidarity,
Cassie Cooper – Nursing Home Worker
Union Member of SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Special Notice and Nominating Petition: SEIU District 1199 District Officers and Executive Board Elections
All nominating petitions must be turned into the SEIU District 1199 election board by 4:30 PM on Wednesday, June 3rd at 1395 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Only originals will be accepted – no scans or faxed copies. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Jo Ivan, Election Chair, by calling (877) 419-7348.
Nominating Petition: 2020 SEIU District 1199 District Officers and Executive Board Elections
Special Notice: 2020 SEIU District 1199 District Officers and Executive Board Elections
Tell Congress – Protect All Workers
National Library Workers Day: A Message From President Becky Williams
Today is National Library Workers Day and this week is National Library Week. Your SEIU District 1199 family wants to take a moment to recognize all library workers.
Public libraries across Ohio make our communities stronger. In many ways, libraries have always brought people together, even when they have been apart. The services that you offer are vital and transformative. Now more than ever, we will work together to ensure that all libraries are safe.
We truly appreciate you and the work that you do on behalf of the public. On this special day and everyday, we thank you for all that you do.
In Solidarity,
Becky Williams – President
SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH