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27 Euclid Avenue, -Columbus, Ohio 43201 Phone: (614) 294-5265 Fax: (614) 294-6562 OSU MAIN CAMPUS, WOOSTER, LIMA, MANSFIELD, NEWARK, MARION, PUT-IN BAY, FACULTY CLUB, SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE, PICKAWAY COUNTY JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES, FRANKLIN COUNTY VETERAN’S COMMISSION Third World Country This wraps up poor American mothers must one reason the U.S. has the highest the article choose between raising their chil- tuition costs of any OECD country. first printed in dren and keeping their jobs. The Rolling Stone U.S. education system is plagued 5. Inequality Magazine. with structural racial biases, like the By almost every measure the U.S. In sharing this fact that schools are funded at the tops out OECD countries in terms article with local, rather than national level. of income inequality, largely be- President Kee you I do not That means that schools attended by cause has the stingiest wel- intend to criti- poor black people get far less fund- fare state of any developed country. cize the fun- ing than the schools attended by This inequality has deep and pro- damental principles our country is wealthier students. The Department found effects on American society. built on but to point out how far I of Education has confirmed that For instance, although the U.S. jus- feel we have strayed from those schools with high concentrations of tifies its rampant inequality on the principles and what we have lost. poor students have lower levels of premise of upward mobility, many both at home and in the world. The funding. It's no wonder America has parts of the United States have comparisons to other countries one of the highest achievement abysmal levels of social mobility, around the world demonstrates are- gaps between high income and where children born in the poorest as in which we have fallen behind low income students, as quintile have a less than 3 percent and to me paints a bleak picture for measured by the Organization for chance of reaching the top quantile. America’s future if we continue in Economic Co-operation and Devel- Inequality harms our democracy, this ultra-conservative direction. In opment (OECD), a collection of because the wealthy exert an out- my thoughts and prayers I often ask rich world countries. Schools today sized political influence. Sheldon for solutions to these problems so are actually more segregated than Adelson, for instance, spent more to we can get back to an America that they were in the 1970s. Our higher influence the 2012 election than the exists not only for the rich and education system is unique among residents of 12 states combined. In- greedy but for the working class developed nations in that it is fund- equality also tears at the social fab- and the needy. ed almost entirely privately, by ric, with a large body of research debt. Students in the average OECD showing that inequality correlates 4. Education country can expect about 70 percent with low levels The U.S. is among only three na- of their college tuition to be public- of social trust. In their book The tions in the world that does not ly funded; in the United States, only Spirit Level, Richard Pickett and guarantee paid maternal leave (the about 40 percent of the cost of edu- Kate Wilkinson show that other two are Papua New Guinea cation is publicly-funded. That's a wide variety of social and Swaziland). This means many See third world p2 HOW BAD WILL YOU LET IT GET BEFORE YOU VOTE? Third world indicators, including health and capacity are more than half a centu- upward mobility blind us to the re- well being are intimately tied to ry old and in Detroit, some of the alities of class and inequality. Our inequality. sewer lines date back to the mid- healthcare system provides good 6. Infrastructure 19th century. One in nine U.S. care to some, but it comes at a cost The United States infrastructure is bridges (or 66,405 bridges) are – millions of people without health slowly crumbling apart and is in considered "structurally defi- insurance. If we don't critically ex- desperate need for repair. cient," according to the National amine these flaws, how can we ever One study estimates that our infra- Bridge Inventory. All of this means hope to progress as a society? structure system needs a $3.6 tril- that the U.S. has fallen rapidly lion investment over the next six in international rankings of infra- years. In New York City, the devel- structure. America is a great coun- opment of Second Avenue subway try, and it does many things well. line was first delayed by the out- But it has vast blind spots. The fact “If you think you are too small to make a break of W.W.II. It's still not fin- that nearly 6 million Americans, or difference, spend the night in a room full ished. In South Dakota, Alaska and 2.5% of the voting age population, of mosquitoes”. Pennsylvania, water is still trans- cannot vote because they have a ported via century-old wooden felony on record means that politi- —African proverb pipes. Some 45 percent of Ameri- cians can lock up more and more cans lack access to public transit. citizens without fear of losing their Large portions of U.S. wastewater seat. Our ideas of meritocracy and

From CWA International News membership. Local 4501 to members and engage in the one- is working with other on-one contact that is so effective. Local 4501 is CWA STRONG CWA activists, includ- "Over the last six weeks, we've ing Local 4310 Presi- stepped up our program, meeting October 10, 2017 dent Dianne Bailey and Local 4322 with members and workers at Local 4501 in Columbus, Ohio, organizer Tomika Cooley, to do worksites three times a week. With took on the challenge and is becom- everything it takes to make sure the help of District 4 organizers, ing CWA STRONG. The local rep- Local 4501 is CWA STRONG. we've signed up another 167 peo- resents public workers at the Ohio President Kee says: ple in just six weeks. State University; in Lima, Mans- "We knew we had to do something. "We've learned that it's im- field, Newark, and Marion, Ohio; We started with a one-week organ- portant to highlight what we're do- the Ohio Secretary of State’s Of- izing blitz in October 2017, dedi- ing, if we've won a member benefit fice; Pickaway County Jobs and cated to reducing the number of or made other gains, or when we're Family Services; Franklin County agency fee payers. Organizers from bargaining a new contract and Veterans’ Commission, and other District 4 joined with Local 4501 know that the way to build strength agencies. members in making house calls and at the bargaining table is by Members work in skilled and onsite visits. We exceeded our goal building strength in our numbers. service trades and as paralegals, and actually got 158 new members That way, agency fee payers and benefits and program specialists, to sign up that week. It was amaz- non-members see what the union is and in other occupations. ing, and it was the start of our pro- doing. They recognize the value Local 4501 President Kevin Kee gram to make our local CWA and say they need to sign up. said that when the local and activ- STRONG. "And we know that it's im- ists "heard about efforts to limit the "Building on that first week, we portant to reach out to everyone. membership of our union, especial- knew we needed to continue to or- Sometimes, a university worker or ly the Friedrichs case, it was a re- ganize. We created spreadsheets county worker hasn't signed up just al wake up call." and databases of every building at due to the fact that no one had The local represents about OSU where we represent workers, reached out to them. That's all 2,200 workers, and about 500 plus members' work shifts and con- changed now. Our steady progress workers were agency fee payers, tact information. It's a lot of work, is becoming a tremendous success." just under 25 percent of total but it's what is needed to reach out Sanders, Pocan Lead Bill to Restore Workers’ Rights date, those who benefit from union con- WASHINGTON, May 9 – threaten or tracts and activities. fire pro- Under the legislation, when a With public support for unions union workers, who threaten to majority of workers in a bargain- at 61 percent, the highest in 15 move plants to China if their work- ing unit sign valid authorization years, Sen. (I-Vt.), ers vote in favor of a union, and cards to join a union, they must Rep. (D-Wis.) and who refuse to negotiate a first con- have a union. Companies would their colleagues in the Senate and tract with workers who have voted not be allowed to deny or delay a House introduced legislation to join unions,” Sanders said. “If first contract with workers who Wednesday that would strengthen we are serious about reducing in- have voted to join a union. Unions the middle class by restoring work- come and wealth inequality and re- would be given the right to have ers' rights to bargain for better wag- building the middle class, we have their voice heard through second- es, benefits and working conditions. got to substantially increase the ary boycotts and picketing. And The legislation has been endorsed number of union jobs in this coun- workers would have the right to by virtually every major union in try.” know when their company spends America. “ Republicans like President millions of dollars running anti- Unions lead to higher wages, Trump and Governor Walker con- union campaigns. better benefits and a more secure tinue to crack down on unions and The bill would also stop em- retirement. Union workers earn 26 push a special interest, corporate- ployers from ruthlessly exploiting percent more, on average, than driven agenda that makes it harder workers by misclassifying them as non-union workers. Union work- for middle class families to get independent contractors or denying ers are also half as likely to be vic- ahead. And while they stack the them overtime by falsely categoriz- tims of health and safety violations deck against the American worker, ing them as a “supervisor.” or of wage theft, 18 percent more unions are fighting to expand eco- “When workers’ rights to col- likely to have health coverage, and nomic opportunity and strengthen lective bargaining are attacked and 23 percent more likely to have ei- the middle class,” said Pocan. “The undermined, corporations have ther an employer sponsored pension Workplace Democracy Act re- enormous power over their workers or 401(k). stores real bargaining rights to and can keep wages so low that However, the rights of workers workers and repeals the right to even full-time employees are still to join together and bargain for bet- work laws like those that Wiscon- living in poverty,” said Sen. Kirsten ter wages, benefits, and working sin Governor Walker has used to Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). conditions have been severely un- undercut American workers. I’m “That is not how our economy dermined. Sixty years ago, nearly a proud to introduce this legislation is supposed to work. We need to third of all workers belonged to a with Senator Sanders and stand up start rewarding work again in union. Today, that number has gone for the millions of middle class this country, and that means mak- down to less than 11 percent. When families who are under attack by ing sure every worker has the right workers become interested in form- Republican leaders.” to join together to fight for the pay ing unions, 75 percent of private- The Workplace Democracy Act and protections they deserve. I am sector employers hire outside con- would make it easier for workers to proud to fight for this important sultants to run anti-union cam- join unions in a number of ways. legislation with Senator Sanders, paigns. An employee who engages It would end right to work for and I urge all of my colleagues in in union organizing campaigns has less laws by repealing Section 14 the Senate to join us in standing up a one in five chance of getting (b) of the Taft Hartley Act, which for our workers.” fired. has allowed 28 states to pass legis- The bill is cosponsored in the “We must no longer tolerate lation eliminating the ability of un- House and Senate by many, in- cluding (OH-09), CEOs and managers who intimi- ions to collect fair share fees from and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dear Mr. Kee, the expertise of these members to great results in my 4501 Strong situations. My name is Betty Al- I am appreciative for there GREAT efforts in helping len. I presently work me in various situations. Their HARD work in the Brain and Spine Post Transplant department as an Office Associate. I have been a Union member for and DEDICATION gave me a GREAT OUTCOME every about 15+ years. The best decision I could have made time. It's never too late to recognize what great work was to become a member. Let me begin by saying that you do. When one is going through this "Thank You" letter is long overdue. I have had challenges as a member it is refreshing to know that a health challenges and was focused on my health which CWA member is there to assist in whatever challenge held up this letter. I am thankful and blessed to say my that is going on. It is unfortunate that a member has to health issues are resolved and I am better. I would like go through such experiences but that is why I am a CWA member. to say that , and are Mericle Long Yasir Lalla Paul Willis an AMAZING group and great TEAM PLAYERS. I have Thank you for a great experience, gained so much knowledge of what my rights are from there expertise. I consider myself an outstanding worker Betty Allen and never would imagine that I would go through some of the experiences that I have gone through. I attribute

Massan Ametowoyona—nominee for Healthcare GOOD AND WELFARE

Worker of the Year Award EVS OSUWMC—Richard M. Ross Heart Massan is a housekeeper who has impacted thousands more time on the patients. She goes above and beyond of patients who will never forget the role she played in her environmental services duties, even coming in on their healing process. If you ask Massan what her per- her off days to visit and provide cards or flowers to the sonal motto is at work she routinely states that she must patients. treat the patients as though they are her own family Massan is a team player who willingly steps up to fill staffing needs, which allows the floor tech to focus

Give them rest with the devout and the just, in the place of the pasture of rest and IN MEMORY refreshment, of waters in the paradise of delight; whence grief and pain and sighing have fled away. In late January Na Sy, EVS OSUWMC Rhodes Hall, lost her father Amadou Madany Sy, who lived in Dakar, Senegal in West Africa. In late May, we lost Barbara Henderson, a retiree from Student Life, Drackett Tower. And in late June, Sophie G. Blamo, OSUWMC Main. lost her brother Jae Faily Gabalah, of Liberia Monrovia. In mid July Diane Smoot, EVS at OSUWMC Doan Hall, lost her husband Donald A. Cushenberry.

SECOND LEVEL GRIEVANCE/RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES ROSTER CWA AC- DEPT STEWARD ARTICLE / ISSUE HRNG DECISION TION

STU-LIFE Harrris Disparity of policy application 4/25/18 RESOLVED NFA**

STU-LIFE Harris Inappropriate call in procedure 4/18/18 Denied Arbed* FOD President Kee Manager working members’ OT 4/13/18 Denied Arbed* STU-LIFE Harris OT opportunities denied 3/23/18 Denied Arbed* STU-LIFE Harris Inequitable treatment 3/1/18 Denied Arbed* *CONSIDERING FOR ARBITRATION **NO FURTHER ACTION ***RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES #SEE NEXT O.U.C.H.