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OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AFSCME LOCAL 11/AFL-CIO Volume 72, No. 3 • Summer 2016 UNION WOMEN FREE College pgs. 8-9 for OCSEA members The women of OCSEA nion work has been predominately male U dominated, but that gap is closing rapidly, says Liz Shuler, the first female AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer elected in 2009. “We have 6.8 million women in the union movement. I don’t think a lot of people “ THE UNION REALLY HELPS realize that, because they do EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD think of men when they think FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO of unions,” said Shuler. BUILD CAREERS.” But the facts show that the – ANDREA TESCHLER, ODOT growing sectors of the economy are actually more female and that women are projected to be the majority of union members in less than 10 years, she said. In AFSCME, OCSEA’s affiliate union, women already make up close to 60 percent of the union’s membership. One of those women is Andrea Teschler, a Dist. 3 Ohio Dept. of Transportation Bridge Specialist 2, monitors the safety of OCSEA activist and chapter Ohio bridges and makes recommendations for repairs. president Andrea Teschler, Thanks to her Union Educa- one’s voice is heard and every She says there is value in her a Dist. 3 Ohio Department of tion Trust, she said, she was able member is treated fairly on union that is beyond measure. Transportation Bridge Spe- to get her bachelor’s degree in the job—whether they are a “It’s job security, a way for me cialist 2. While she works in a Business Administration while woman or a man. “Fairness, to provide for my children,” said male-dominated field, she tries working her full-time job. doing what’s right, that’s what Xylina. not to think too much about “It really took me years to get unions are about,” she said. Like Teschler, her job security gender when it comes to doing where I am now,” said Teschler. Xylina Schneck, a Correc- is linked to her Union Education her job. “I got my job today, I’d like to tion Officer at Lebanon Correc- Trust funds, which allow her to Teschler helps maintain think, because of my skill sets. tional Institution, student and go to school to study criminal bridges on and along Ohio state That’s it,” she said. single mother says her union justice while working a full-time routes and Interstates. She and Union contracts help even job means everything to her. job. “My union education benefit other inspectors monitor the the playing field for men Schneck said she left a job in lets me to go to school for free. safety of those bridges and make and women to build careers. home care nursing four years It’s perfect for moms like me, recommendations for repairs to Thankfully for unionized public ago for Corrections, because it because I don’t have to worry ODOT engineers. employees like Teschler, the offered flexibility, predictable about leave balances or whether With a simple start as an gender gap for union women hours, wages and benefits that I’m spending too much time ODOT college summer intern nationally is 40 percent smaller made it possible for her to care away from my kids. It’s a win- 26 years ago, Teschler says a than for nonunion workers. for her family of five—four boys win,” said Xylina. lot of hard work and a union As the president of OCSEA’s between 5 months and 8 years Now more than ever, the contract helped her climb the Ashland Chap. 300, Teschler old and an 11-year-old daughter. following issues are at the fore- ODOT career ladder. fights to make sure every- front for Schneck: affordable 2 Public Employee Quarterly Summer 2016 “IT’s job securiTY, A WAY FOR ME TO PROVIDE FOR MY CHILDREN.” – Xylina SCHNECK, DR&C Xylina Schneck poses with some of her children during a picket to stop job and service cuts at state prison farms. Herself a Correction Officer, Xylina says it’s important for her children to know the security that comes with union jobs. education, paid family leave for the job who aligns with her coworkers helped defeat And what a rebellion it’s and affordable health care. And their views. Women will choose that law that tried to curb their been. Election cycle after politicians who want to get their candidates based on those collective bargaining rights. election cycle, the women elected—from the White House views. And union women will Henry was active in registering of this country—especially on down—will get there only if help lead the way! co-workers to vote during the SB union women—have made they can resonate and connect Charla Henry sees the 5 fight and more. their voices and their issues with women. connection between voting There’s no doubt about it: heard loud and clear. American Candidates on both sides of and the work she does as a Dis- 2016 will go down as a historic women have cast more votes the aisle must take issues-based ability Claims Adjudicator with year for women! When activists than men in every presidential approaches to effectively target Opportunities for Ohioans with held the first Women’s Rights election since 1964. women voters. Yes, women have Disabilities. Her agency helps Convention 168 years ago in And they’ll be the ones to complex identities and cast their Ohioans with disabilities find Seneca Falls, NY, the goal was to decide in 2016 as well. votes for a variety of reasons. employment and workplace instigate the “greatest rebellion But, much like the crusaders independence. Her division the world has ever seen.” that came before them, women determines medical eligibility Charla Henry, a Claims Adjudicator with OOD, works to expedite are taking to the polls to stand for Social Security disability Social Security disability claims for Ohio’s homeless population. their moral ground for families, benefits and is entirely federally workers, minorities, immigrants funded. and others who deserve a fair “The investment in disabled and equal shot, but don’t always Ohioans who are unable to get it. work is tied to the those we According to a 2015 AFL- elect in Washington,” said Charla. CIO National Survey of Work- Henry works directly to expe- ing Women, important issues dite claims for the homeless include equal pay for equal population. work, affordable and guaranteed As OOD Chap. 2538 co-chief health care for all, affordable steward, Henry says her union “WE HAVE A higher education and raising the impacts how she votes. “I vote minimum wage. Women support God, family and work,” said MORAL OBLIGATION collective bargaining rights and Charla. “We have a moral obliga- TO HELP OTHERS... believe in strengthening laws tion to help others. Voting is one UNIONS ARE against discrimination in hiring, way to bring about change and OUR VOICE AND pay, and promotion. Overall, social reform. Unions are our EQUALIZER IN women are more likely to favor voice and equalizer in the work- a more active role for govern- place and have paved the way THE WORKPLACE.” ment and support programs to for advancement all over public - CHARLA HENRY, OOD guarantee health care and basic service,” said Charla. social services. Henry says she saw the Union women know it’s impact of legislation on state about more than just electing workers with Senate Bill 5, the WEB EXCLUSIVE: the first woman President. It’s law that tried to silence union See why OCSEA members give to about electing the right person public employees. She and PEOPLE at ocsea.org/PEOPLEPower Summer 2016 Public Employee Quarterly 3 Candidates for a better Ohio rom public service to politics, women are breaking the gender barrier like never before. Check out some of the OCSEA-endorsed Ohio women candidates making F strides for women and fighting for workers and Ohio families. See all of OCSEA’s endorsements on pages 14-15 and at OCSEAVotes.org. Ginny Favede, running for the 95th District seat, is a Belmont County Commissioner. She Do you worry about says her main focus is protecting Ohio’s working families and strongly opposes any form of Right Right to Work or to Work in Ohio. She opposed Senate Bill 5 and other issues that supports a public employee’s right to bargain collectively. She says she will oppose any efforts could impact public that weaken workers’ rights in the state. She is employee collective a proponent of raising the minimum wage as a means of helping working families and growing bargaining? the economy. Her opponent, Rep. Andy Thomp- son, is co-sponsoring Ohio’s latest Right to Work attack, House Bill 583. GINNY FAVEDE Barb Niemeyer is a retired educator from London, Ohio, running in Ohio’s 74th District. She says unionism is a legacy in her family, with a bricklayer father and a brother active in the Ohio Education Association (OEA). Now an OEA retiree, she was active against Senate Bill 5, knocking on doors and making calls to bring down the law. She pledged to fight Right CYNTHIA RICE to Work and is opposed to privatization and It’s so important to have allies, not the low quality services that come with selling only in the state legislature but on the off assets and outsourcing jobs. Her anti-union Ohio Supreme Court. Appellate Court opponent, Rep. Bill Dean, says he strongly sup- Judge Cynthia Rice is one of those ports passage of Right to Work and is a co-spon- allies.

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