SEOEA e-Pad Senate Bill 5 Update 

(Vol 1, Issue 4)

Greetings!

Our apologies for the several updates this week, but our aim is to inform as many members as quickly as possible when we receive updates on these issues which will so adversely affect our members as well as other public employees.  Thank you for bearing with us and for your efforts to stop the union-busting tactics of our legislators here and in other states. You see in the news what collective efforts are doing in Wisconsin.

We need to get as many OEA members as possible to the Senate Bill 5 rally on Tuesday and for a probable rally on Thursday when it is anticipated that this bill will be voted out of committee.  Carpool or carvan to be at the OEA office by noon.  Attendees will then march to the Statehouse around 1:00 PM.  It is anticipatd that the hearing will begin around 4:00 PM.  The rally will continue until at least 7:00 PM.  To RSVP your attendance, click here.  Be prepared for another rally on Thursday by lining up possible attendees.

This update from OEA:

We have received numerous phone calls and emails asking us about a rally at the Statehouse on Monday at 11 am.  The OEA is not sponsoring a rally at the Statehouse on Monday at 11 am.  The reasons why are the following: 1.) None of the Senators will be in Columbus on Monday, 2.) We need to focus on lobbying and political action in your home district this weekend, 3.) To our knowledge, no other labor or progressive organization is hosting a rally on Monday at the Statehouse, 4.) We will need all of you to descend on the Statehouse later this week during the Senate hearings (probably Tuesday and Thursday, which we are confirming and will let you know as soon as the Senate schedule is released).

2.       We need for you to continue to do the following things this week:

·         Write letters, send emails, make phone calls and visit your Senator

·         Share information with colleagues and neighbors

·         Recruit 2-5 others to do the same (and fill out commitment cards)

·         Write Letters to the Editor

3.       Our Educator Connector line will be live later today, allowing OEA members to be quickly and easily connected to their State Legislators with one toll-free call.  When asking members to call their elected officials to advocate for our positions, it's best to direct them to this number - (888) 907-7309.

Here's what will happen when members call the number after today:

·         Then they'll be played a recorded message that reiterates our lobbying message on SB5.

·         They'll be asked for their zip code, which the system uses to match them to the State Senator who represents that area.

·         Finally, they'll be connected to the legislative office of their State Senator so they can make their voice heard.

The elected officials we are all working to persuade to support us need to hear from their constituents (most, if not all, don't care about calls from non-constituents) and need to hear from our members using our message (one based on research and lobbying experience).  Directing members to use this line will ensure that they are being connected to the right elected official and they are hearing our latest, most up-to-date message, which may change on the fly as the bill is amended or moves forward.

Members who call this line will also be counted as having completed a personal advocacy action and will be added to the Grassroots Activist Lookup tool. That way, with your assistance, other members in the area can keep that member involved in other upcoming personal advocacy actions.

4.       Rallies in Columbus this week during Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee hearings (probably Tuesday and Thursday).  We will again be requesting that as many members (and staff as appropriate) as possible come to Columbus to join these rallies in coordination with our brothers and sisters in labor, progressive organizations and others.  We have heard that the committee may take a vote on the bill on Thursday.  This is not confirmed, however.  We will provide you with details as soon as we have them.  Please stay tuned.

There are a number of other events that members and staff are hosting throughout the state from now until the end of next week, as well as events being hosted by other labor groups.  If you know of an event, please send it to me so that I can send it out to all.

Finally, thank you all again for your activism.  We will need to keep the fire burning this week and beyond.  In order for us to successfully fend off these attacks and advocate for students and educators, we must work together in a coordinated way.  I look forward to continuing to work with each and every one of you in a productive and supportive manner moving forward.

If you have questions regarding these details, please do not hesitate to ask.

Ron Rapp

Director, Governmental Services

Ohio education Association