State of Ohio

Nurses with OhioMHAS who work in mental health facilities across Ohio say that under staffing has created unsafe conditions and that this puts both staff and patients at-risk of serious injury

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 20th, 2020
For more information, contact: Joshua Norris | (877) 419-7348

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Union nurses who are members of SEIU District 1199 say that they are working under difficult conditions with severe staffing shortages on a daily basis. While some staffing issues and difficult work conditions pre-existed the COVID19 pandemic, nurses report that such challenges have now gotten significantly worse.

“Nurses with the OhioMHAS are being forced to work short staffed. In one instance, a nurse maintains that she was tasked with caring for as many as 28 patients at one time. Many of these patients had a severe diagnosis. While providing such care is difficult with 2-3 nurses per unit, most recently, 1 nurse has often been assigned per unit to provide care,” said Joshua Norris, an Executive Vice President with SEIU District 1199. “Nurses contend with a variety of challenges, including the possibility of being threatened or assaulted. Short staffing increases the risk of such conditions, not only to nurses but those for whom they provide care. It is not a question of if these conditions will result in a bad outcome such as harm to staff and patients – low staffing ratios make this inevitable.”

Nurses with the OhioMHAS work 12 hour shifts, which can be exhausting physically and mentally, making hazardous conditions even more volatile. Additionally, these nurses also now face potential exposure to COVID19.

“The State of Ohio is well aware of staffing issues at OhioMHAS medical facilities and refuses to hire and retain staff to address these concerns. It is bad enough that the State of Ohio initiated mandatory pay cuts and freezes on the non-Union staff, but now non-bargaining unit staff are using this as a vehicle to attack Union employees,” Norris continued. “Nurses have reported that managerial staff have told members of SEIU District 1199 that because they did not give up pay or make monetary concessions, they now must face short staffing and dangerous situations – this is completely unacceptable. Members with the Union do not have enough staff, enough PPE, or enough relief time, such as time each shift to grab a quick bite to eat. These nurses work tirelessly and give their absolute best every day. The State of Ohio must provide ample staff to keep nurses and patients safe. The State of Ohio must hire adequate staff to ensure that such nurses are able to return home each night without the prospect of serious injury or harm to themselves or those for whom they provide care.”

SEIU District 1199 represents nurses who provide health care services on behalf of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 

Workers continue to request additional protective equipment and for the Ohio DRC to re-evaluate safety and staffing policies amid the COVID19 pandemic.

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 20th, 2020
For more information, contact: Joshua Norris | (877) 419-7348

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Workers with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction state with urgency that the lives of staff and inmates are at-risk. Members of SEIU District 1199 say that despite good faith efforts to request improvements, they are still not being provided with additional personal protective equipment. Workers also say that ODRC administrators along with Governor Mike DeWine continue to fail to hear their concerns.

“Just since March this year, nearly 100 individuals have lost their lives within ODRC facilities due to the pandemic. These individuals are all confirmed cases or were listed as probable for COVID19,” said Joshua Norris, Executive Vice President for SEIU District 1199. “Union members with SEIU District 1199 who work at ODRC facilities, these workers provide vital social services and health care. It is imperative for more to be done to protect workers at these institutions. We are calling on ODRC administrators, OhioMHAS administrators, Ohio Department of Youth Services administrators, and Governor Mike DeWine, to act now with urgency on behalf of staff and inmates.”

Union members with SEIU District 1199 are asking for the State of Ohio to allow work from home status when possible, such as for workers with OhioMHAS Recovery Services and to provide additional and/or higher-grade protective equipment,” Norris continued. Workers with ODRC institutions say that unless providing direct care, they are not being provided with N95 masks, which offer a higher level of protection against COVID19. N95 masks are being provided at the discretion of administrators. “Workers have the ability to wear cloth or surgical masks – we do not believe that cloth masks offer enough protection in these facilities. Where are the N95 masks and what will be done if conditions deteriorate. If not N95 masks, the State of Ohio could issue face shields to all staff members, in addition to surgical masks, and eliminate cloth facial coverings, among other potential improvements,” Norris continued.

“At this time, 1,026 staff members have contracted COVID19 at ODRC institutions. It is a fact that COVID19 is a substantial risk to these workers. Members continue to ask what more can be done to ramp up the availability of PPE and bolster current safety protocols. These workers are heroes who are putting their lives at-risk on behalf of inmates and the public,” concluded Norris.

SEIU District 1199 leaders and Union members are calling on Governor DeWine and directors with the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to immediately reevaluate their policies as they relate to COVID-19, the delivery of care and services, and the availability and use of effective personal protective equipment.

SEIU District 1199 represents health care workers and staff members who provide services on behalf of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. SEIU District 1199 also represents workers with OhioMHAS Recovery Services and the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

Workers with the State of Ohio say that Governor DeWine should allow work-at home status for more state workers to protect employees and prevent the spread of COVID19.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 11th, 2020
Contact: Joshua Norris at 877-419-7348         

COLUMBUS, OHIO – Workers with the State of Ohio say that Governor DeWine should allow work-at home status for more state workers to protect employees and prevent the spread of COVID19. Specifically, state workers with the Ohio Department of Health, who work in Downtown Columbus, are asking Governor Mike DeWine and leaders with the Ohio Department of Health to place workers back on work-at-home status. They say that while they are currently classified as “essential” and though their work is important to the response to the pandemic, their jobs can be done remotely from home.

“Workers with the State of Ohio were sent home in March and April due to the serious risks posed by increasing cases of COVID19. Yet, the reality is that current conditions are more dangerous today with widespread community transmission of COVID19, especially in hot spots like Franklin County,” says Joshua Norris, Executive Vice President of SEIU District 1199. “Members have formally expressed their concerns in recent labor-management meetings with the State of Ohio. As Governor DeWine requests employers to have workers on work-at-home status when possible, we are asking the State of Ohio to do the same, this should include office-based workers with the Ohio Department of Health in Downtown Columbus.”  

Union leaders state that the union members at 35 East Chestnut Street in Columbus work in various public health positions and are playing an important role in the public response to the pandemic. Management has expressed that it is easier to communicate when workers are at a central location.

“The staff members have various concerns about safety and the application of workplace policies, like many workers across Ohio and the country during this difficult time,” continued Norris. “Whether your work for the Ohio Department of Health or ODMHAS, we ask the State of Ohio to re-evaluate which positions are able to complete their work remotely, to be highly responsive to workplace safety concerns during the pandemic, and to maintain work-at-home status whenever possible,”  said Norris.  “Franklin County is one of the hottest spots in Ohio for potential COVID exposure, these individuals are being required to risk their lives by reporting to work. This is not how you flatten the curve. These individuals have proven that they are trusted, capable, and willing to complete the jobs that their fellow Ohioans rely on, while staying safe in their own homes. You don’t want your front line to be exposed during a pandemic, if you can prevent it,” Norris continued. “Now we are learning that the managerial staff at the ODH office in Columbus recently held an in-person retirement party where more than 25 staff congregated to recognize a retiring member of the management team. This sends the wrong message and is further evidence of a lack of respect for these Union members, their families, their communities, and all Ohioans.”