The Value of Membership
Members tell their stories of why they value OEA membership. By being a member of OEA, educators have the power to stand up for their students. OEA is an advocate for high quality public education for all students.
OEA Member Resource Guide 2017
Use this guide as an overview to help you make the most of your OEA Membership. Within, you’ll learn more about:
- Ways to Become Involved
- Fighting for Public Education
- OEA Staff, Leadership, and Board of Directors
- OEA Higher Education Benefit
- Awards and Scholarships
- Valuable NEA Member Benefits and Services
Throughout our more than 150-year history, OEA members have been involved in every struggle and effort to advance the finest of America’s dreams: a quality public education for every child.
If you have additional questions, contact us at 1-844-OEA-Info (1-844-632-4636) or send us an email to: membership@ohea.org.
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Bargaining OSCES
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Once a Union is Formed
Negotiating a Contract
Once the company recognizes the union (via card check) or the union wins an NLRB election, the company and union must negotiate a contract which spells out terms of employment for those workers eligible for the contract. Usually, the union bargaining team is com-posed of leaders from the organizing commit-tee and union representatives familiar with contracts and bargaining.
Negotiating a contract is referred to as collective bargaining. When relations between unions and management are decent, contracts can usually be agreed to in a relatively short period of time – a few days, a few weeks or at most, a few months. Negotiations that drag on longer than a few months usually do so because a company does not want a contract. Unfortunately, 32 percent of workers in the U.S. who vote for a union for the first time never get a contract.
Enforcing the Contract
A union contract sets forth the terms of employment and a grievance mechanism for dealing with disagreements. A shop steward is the person who assists workers in filing grievances and using the grievance process. The union has a legal obligation to assist workers in the process. A shop steward is usually a worker who has special training in understanding the contract.
Renewing the Contract
Because contracts are for specific periods of time, such as one year or three years, the contract will “come up for renewal.” For most union-management relations, this is a fairly straightforward process. In other situations, it can become contentious.
The traditional way for workers to exercise pressure on a company is to go on strike. This is almost always a last resort for because it is so hard on their families.
Your Right to Organize
The right to have a union, support a union, and engage in union activity is protected by State and Federal law. It is illegal for management to harass, intimidate, punish, or fire anyone for exercising your legally protected right to organize.
From Ohio Revised Code, Section 4117.03 – Rights of public employees:
- Public employees have the right to:
- Form, join, assist, or participate in, or refrain from forming, joining, assisting, or participating in, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code, any employee organization of their own choosing;
- Engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection;
From Ohio Revised Code, Section 4117.11 – Unfair Labor Practice:
- It is an unfair labor practice for a public employer, its agents, or representatives to:
- Interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code or an employee organization in the selection of its representative for the purposes of collective bargaining or the adjustment of grievances;
- Initiate, create, dominate, or interfere with the formation or administration of any employee organization, or contribute financial or other support to it; except that a public employer may permit employees to confer with it during working hours without loss of time or pay, permit the exclusive representative to use the facilities of the public employer for membership or other meetings, or permit the exclusive representative to use the internal mail system or other internal communications system;
- Discriminate in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment on the basis of the exercise of rights guaranteed by Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code. Nothing precludes any employer from making and enforcing an agreement pursuant to division (C) of section 4117.09 of the Revised Code.
- Discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee because he has filed charges or given testimony under Chapter 4117 of the Revised Code
Forming a union
Step 1: Initial Contacts
Organizers and employees meet to assess the level of interest among coworkers and determine who might want to take a leadership role in the organizing drive.
Step 2: Building An Organizing Committee
Employees who strongly support OEA representation begin meeting to form an Organizing Committee, a core group of employees who will lead the campaign and be responsible for decision-making and communication leading up to recognition of the union. The committee should be at least 10% of the total workforce and be representative of the overall group.
Step 3: Building Support
When ready, the committee will reach out to coworkers through one-on-one conversations to assess interest. If it is determined that enough support exists, the committee will begin collecting authorization and membership cards. This is how the committee proves that there is enough “interest” to hold an election. Though state law requires only that 30% of the total unit signs cards, we will need at least 65% on cards to file for and win an election.
Step 4: Filing For An Election
Once the committee has collected cards from at least 65% of the unit, they will be submitted to the appropriate agency, either the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), or the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The agency will work with the union and management to determine and define the appropriate bargaining unit. They will also verify that there are enough signatures to hold an election.
Step 5: The Election
Once SERB or the NLRB has scheduled an election, employees will receive a ballot in the mail. The ballot will have 2 choices: The Association or No Representative. When the votes are received and counted, a simple majority will win.
Step 6: Bargaining
After OEA wins the election, employees will elect a bargaining team of coworkers to negotiate a first union contract. Along with an experienced negotiator from OEA, the bargaining team is responsible for bringing your priorities to the bargaining table. Once an agreement with management has been reached, all employees will vote on ratification of the contract.
Bargaining Nondiscrimination
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Bargaining Salary
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Local Chapter Development: Ten steps for organizing
Step One: Form a Steering Committee
What is a Steering Committee
A Steering Committee is a small group of people who share common interest and goals
Whom can I contact?
Friends, classmates, roommates, club members, people in your dorm.
How do I approach these people?
Ask questions like:
- Have you heard of NEA Student Program?
- What do you think of the NEA Student Curriculum?
- Are you covered by insurance?
- Do you know what certification requirements are for your state?
Follow with:
- The Student Program helps _________________.
- The Student Program is an advocate of ________.
- The Student Program offers $1,000,000 liability insurance.
What do I need?
To know what the Student Program is and what it stands for.
To have literature available
To be committed
Step Two: Enlisting the Support of Key People
Who are the Key People?
President of the College, college deans, chancellors, committee chairpersons, Department chairpersons, other student leaders.
How do I find out who has the power?
Read the college governance documents.
Read minutes from meetings.
Read the campus newspaper.
Ask college faculty members
Consult with the former Advisor(s) if there was one (or more).
What do I do when I find them?
Make an appointment to see them.
Take someone with you to show support.
Explain what you are trying to do.
Ask about funding and facilities.
Ask about being a recognized campus organization.
Send them a thank you note.
Step Three: Select an Advisor
Is an advisor important?
Yes, they are the most important link between your organization and the college.
What do I look for in an advisor?
Someone who has a good rapport with the students, is willing to spend time with the organization, has a commitment to teacher education. Hopefully, the person is in the Education Department and is an NEA member.
What if no one on campus will do it?
Check the local schools for an NEA member. Be careful though, this may affect campus recognition. Another possibility is a retired teacher or professor in the area.
Step Four: Steering Committee
Who goes to the meeting?
Your Steering Committee advisor, and maybe some of the key people you contacted.
What do I do?
At this meeting, you are going to look at the remainder of your organizational plan and prepare for your first general meeting. Make assignments for the next meeting; be sure to include publicity, program and refreshments. Do not hesitate to contact your state association for help at this time.
Step Five: Chapter Meeting
What do I need to remember?
To prepare plenty of advance publicity
To select a time and date which allows the most people to attend
To have an interesting program
To keep the meeting as short as possible
To have NEA Student Program literature available
To have membership forms available
To leave participants with the thought that they should join because membership in a chapter is going to be a rewarding experience for them.
To set the date for the next meeting
To have a sign-in sheet so you have the address of everyone who attends 20
Step Six: Membership Collection
WHAT IS A MEMBERSHIP COLLECTION SPOT?
The membership collection spot is a place that is: centrally located on campus, open most of the time, and where someone can keep an eye on it.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
If someone has a membership form but does not know where to take it, they won’t turn it in.
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO HAVE ONE?
Ask a secretary if they would do it.
Set up a ballot box arrangement.
See if the campus bookstore would collect them
Publicize the location of the membership collection spot.
You may even be able to have more than one.
Step Seven: Personal Contact Follow-Up & Membership Promotion
WHAT KIND OF CONTACT SHOULD I MAKE?
Some possibilities are: phone calls, post cards, letters, visits, and, of course e-mail.
WHAT DO I SAY?
Thank them for attending.
Remind them of the next meeting.
Ask if they have any suggestions.
Did they join; do they want to?
Do they know of anyone else who might be interested?
Would they like some literature to distribute?
HOW DO I KNOW WHOM TO CONTACT?
You should have a list from your first meeting. If not, ask people you know attended.
WHY A CONTINUED PROGRAM?
Membership promotion is a year-round task for your chapter. There are peak seasons for membership drives, fall and spring. The process, however, should never take a break. Always have promotion materials visible and readily available. You never know when someone will have the urge to join and you don’t want to be caught with your membership down!
WHERE DO I GET MY MATERIALS?
Contact your state student organizer to obtain membership brochures about both the national and state levels of the Student Program.
Step Eight: Steering Committee Second Meeting
WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS MEETING?
Three important tasks must be accomplished at this meeting:
- Plan for second general meeting
- Select a slate of officers
- Evaluate what you have done so far.
WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE GENERAL MEETING?
You need to:
- Follow the same procedures as your first meeting.
- Hold election for officers.
- Propose local dues.
- Establish any committees you may need.
WHAT OFFICERS DO WE NEED?
President, vice president, and secretary/treasurer
HOW DO WE EVALUATE?
Take a good look at your past activities.
Don’t be afraid to admit mistakes.
Take measures to correct them.
WHAT SHOULD I SUBMIT TO THE STATE ASSOCIATION?
You need to complete the affiliate application and submit it along with the appropriate documents (Constitution & bylaws etc. See Appendix for samples)
Step Nine: Plan Activities
WHO IS INVOLVED?
Your elected leaders, committee chairpersons and advisor.
WHAT TYPES OF THINGS DO WE PLAN?
Suggestions:
- Set a membership goal
- Plan the membership drive.
- Identify program areas of concern.
- Set tentative meeting dates
- Plan for state activities.
- Plan for national activities.
- Develop a budget.
Remember:
- To prevent problems by asking for help.
- To set only those goals you can reach.
- To be patient; growth takes time
Step Ten: Contact Local and State Associations
WHAT IS THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION?
Your local community school district will have a local education association, employees that are affiliated with the state and the national Association.
WHAT CAN THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION DO?
Local leaders and staff can give you advice and help you with your student local.
They can speak in classes or at your local meeting.
They can provide opportunities for student members to visit local classrooms and to attend teacher In-Service day.
They can also invite students to attend regular association or regional meetings.
They can help answer questions about building your chapter and about entering the teaching field.
Be wonderful contacts for you when you begin your job search.
WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT?
Call the Association President and /or UniServ.
If you are student teaching, ask to meet the Association representative in your building.
WHAT CAN THE STATE ASSOCIATION DO FOR YOU?
Arrange for members to speak at meetings.
Provide materials or other information.
Provide other speakers.
Provide statewide conferences.
Bargaining ESSA
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