COLUMBUS – July 8, 2014 – More than 260 custodians, paraprofessionals, secretaries and other education support professionals in the Pickerington Local School District have voted to form a union affiliated with the Ohio Education Association (OEA). The ballots were counted today by the State Employment Relations Board.
“We organized our union to win job security, respect, and a voice at work” said Jessica Seymour, an 11- year Administrative Secretary in the district’s Welcome Center, “We look forward to negotiating our first contract and building a productive and mutually respectful relationship with the district.”
The vote was the culmination of a nine-month organizing campaign and a two-week mail-balloting period. During the campaign, the district agreed to remain neutral and allow employees to decide freely whether or not to organize. The new union, the Pickerington Support Staff Association OEA/NEA, will now begin the process of negotiating an initial union contract.
“I love my job with the Pickerington Local School District because I am able to provide a clean and safe environment in which our students can learn” added Don Kauffman, a five-year Head Custodian at Toll Gate Middle School. “We know that sitting down with management at the bargaining table is the best way to maintain our high standards and remain focused on the success of our students.”
Pickerington Local School District is no stranger to negotiations with OEA members, more than 600 teachers and other certified district staff are already represented by the Pickerington Education Association, also an OEA affiliate.
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The Ohio Education Association (ohea.org) represents 121,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio’s public schools, colleges and universities.
CONTACT: Julie Newhall
614-227-3044; cell 614-578-6380
