Visitors can go to https://www.covidtests.gov/ web page where they can order four tests per household, free of charge. The Postal Service will handle shipping and delivery through first-class mail. Free tests will also be available at some community health centers, rural clinics and federal testing sites.

Separately in a new rule, people with private insurance should soon be able to start seeking reimbursement for Covid tests they purchase themselves. Incentives are in the works to encourage insurers to cooperate with pharmacies and other retailers so people can be reimbursed at the time of purchase.

While public health experts say that at-home tests are not as sensitive as the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests performed in a lab or clinic, PCR tests results can take 12 hours to several days and cost $150 or more without insurance coverage. While at home tests are not quite as accurate, experts have expressed the opinion that someone experiencing Covid symptoms can and should rely on positive at-home test results and isolate accordingly.

For more information on Ohio testing and vaccinations go to https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/

We’re excited to announce a new benefit for our members! 

Members and retirees can now get discounted tickets to Columbus Blue Jackets home games!

To access the tickets click here. You will have to login to the members site to access the ticket link.

We work closely with organizations all across the state to bring you great benefits and deals to all sorts of fun activities. Your membership is critical to our union thriving and being able to continue fighting for you at the bargaining table. That’s why we make it a priority to show our appreciation.

You can find more benefits and deals offered to Council 8 members here.

And don’t forget about one of the best benefits offered to our members and their families – FREE COLLEGE! Yes, you read that right. Free college. For more information on the free college benefit program click here. Go to college, get a degree and graduate debt-free.

In solidarity,

AFSCME Ohio Council 8

Union brothers and sisters,

As we approach the holiday season and come to the end of 2021, I find myself reflecting on the year past.

First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude to our members and their families for the resilience and strength you all have shown. Many of you spent another year on the frontlines of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, keeping our communities running and safe. Your continued service does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Our union and unions across the country showed solidarity that has reinvigorated and galvanized working people, young and old, to stand together. When we fight together, we win.

When we stand together, there is no challenge that we can’t face and conquer.

From our Council 8 family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.

R. Sean Grayson
President, AFSCME Ohio Council 8

The fighting of World War I ceased  when an armistice marked the end of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany. It went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. In 1938, every November 11th was made a legal holiday.  

Originally, Armistice Day was a day to honor veterans of World War I. However, in 1954, after World War II and the Korea War, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day. On June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, Congress passed The Uniform Holiday Act which was intended to ensure all Federal holidays would be celebrated on Mondays creating three-day weekends. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. 

It soon became quite apparent that Veterans Day was a matter of great historic and patriotic significance to a great number of Americans. In 1975   President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. It remains a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

AFSCME Ohio Council 8 members mobilized and played a key role making a clean sweep of Ohio’s major cites by electing AFSCME Power In Action’s endorsed Mayoral candidates.

In Cincinnati, AFSCME Council 8’s support helped elect Aftab Pureval who becomes the city’s first Asian-American mayor. Pureval is the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts where workers are represented by AFSCME Local 3156. 

According to Cincinnati Regional Director Renita Jones-Street “we’ve had a good relationship with Mr. Pureval and we are confident that as mayor, we will continue to work together to make a city that works for everyone.”   

“Cleveland’s AFSCME Council 8 members came out in force to help elect Justin Bibb as the city’s next mayor,” said Cleveland Regional Director Council 8 Marquez Brown. 

Winning in a landside victory, Bibb will be first new mayor of Cleveland since the 2006 election of five-term Mayor Frank G. Jackson who did not seek re-election. Brown said Council 8 members knocked on 6,000 doors and made more than 5,000 phone calls on Bibbs behalf.

In Dayton, two-term City Commissioner Jeffrey Mims will be the city’s next mayor after easily defeating his opponent winning more than two-thirds of the votes cast. Mims, 74, is a former educator and at one time served as the president of the Dayton Education Association, the union representing the city’s public school teachers.

Dayton Regional Director Pete McLinden said Mims is a long time public servant “and has always been a strong advocate for unions and worker’s rights.”   

Mims will be the city’s first new mayor since 2013. He replaces Nan Whaley who is now running for governor.

With strong support from Toledo’s Council 8 members who hit the streets and made phone calls, voters re-electedMayor Wade Kapszukiewicz to a second term by an overwhelming 70% to 30% margin. 

Prior to becoming Mayor in 2018, Kapszukiewicz was Lucas County Treasurer, served one term on the Lucas County Board of Education and was a Toledo city councilman for nearly seven years.

“Council 8 members gave their full support to re-elect Mayor Kapszukiewicz,” said Toledo Regional Director Dawn Bailey. “He has been a solid friend of AFSCME and the Toledo labor community and we’re confident he will keep Toledo growing.” 

  Also in the Toledo Region city of Lima voters went to the polls and elected Sharetta Smith its next mayor, replacing Mayor David J. Berger who held the office for 32 years. In addition, Smith made history by becoming the city’s first woman and its first African American mayor.

“AFSCME members get active when they can elect candidates who support labor and Ohio’s working families,” said AFSCME Ohio Council 8 President R. Sean Grayson. “We engaged our communities and we talked to our co-workers friends, neighbors and family. That’s how we win elections. It’s hard work, but no one does it better than AFSCME!”.

Julie Albers

The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees has certified the re-election of Julie Albers to a four-year term on the OPERS Board of Trustees representing county employees.

A 30-year employee of Cuyahoga County’s MetroHealth Hospital, Julie has a personal stake in a secure retirement.  As a registered Respiratory Therapist,  she brings an important healthcare point of view to the OPERS board of trustees.  

First elected to represent county employees on the OPERS Board Of Trustees in 2017, she understands that all career county employees depend on a pension they can count on.

“I believe it’s vital to make sure OPERS provides a pension that meets the needs of county employees and all of Ohio’s public employees. I’m committed to continue making sure no one is left behind.”

According to AFSCME Ohio Council 8 President R. Sean Grayson, AFSCME and its labor allies have a majority on the board “This is an example of the clout only a unified statewide organization has,” he said.   

Albers has been an active AFSCME member since joining the union in 1991. In 2007, Cleveland’s Council 8 members elected her Regional Vice President, and in 2020, she became Ohio Council 8’s Recording Secretary. In addition she also serves on the Ohio AFSCME Care Plan Board of Trustees

Albers joins AFSCME Local 11/OCSEA President Chris Mabe representing state employees, AFSCME Local 3360 University of Toledo Medical Center President Randy Desposito representing Non-teaching College/University Employees, and former Dayton AFSCME Local 101 leader Ken Thomas representing Municipal Employees on the 11-member board.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the administration and management of OPERS. Board members also authorize the investments made with the system’s funds. They receive no compensation for their service to OPERS.

AFSCME Local 771 City of Ironton Ohio members putting flags up along the city’s flood wall along the Ohio River. Member, Brain Caudil handing flags up to Wade Jenkins, and member Joe Brammer -not shown – is driving the truck.

On Monday, May 31st America will remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country. From large cities to small towns AFSCME Ohio Council 8 members across the state take great pride in honoring those who have served our nation.

Members in Council 8’s Athens region, serving 14 counties in Southeastern Ohio, included Ohio River towns of Ironton and Portsmouth, members of AFSCME Local 771 and AFSCME Local 1039 were on the job helping their communities honor those that served.

“Our members show their civic spirit every day on the job, but Memorial Day weekend is special,” said Athens Regional Vice President John Ackison, president of AFSCME Local 1699 representing Ohio University Employees in Athens, Ohio.

“Our members feel this is important and they take it seriously. Our region is made up of many smaller cities like Ironton and Portsmouth where our members are especially proud because most have family members who served the nation and they take putting up Memorial Day decorations as a personal duty as well as a job,” Ackison said.  

AFSCME Local 1039 City of Portsmouth members manicuring the city cemetery for Memorial Day weekend.

The first national celebration of Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) took place May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery. 100 years later in 1968, Congress established Memorial Day as a Federal holiday. The change went into effect in 1971.

Local 1252 members ratify contract by overwhelming margin in drive-through voting

The members of AFSCME Local 1252, representing the staff at OhioHealth O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens ratified an agreement that improved wages and benefits for more than 350 nurses, respiratory technicians and other health care professionals and support personal covered by the new 2-year agreement.  

In addition to an average wage increase of 3 percent each year, the contract maintained current benefits along with fully-employer paid AFSCME Ohio Care Plan coverage including dental, prescription drug, vision, life insurance and Care Plan Teledoc – which enables members to talk to a doctor able to consult, diagnose and prescribe over the phone at no cost. 

Improvements to the current contract include the addition of 12 weeks paid maternity leave, and in addition paid sick time, short-term disability leave at 70% pay, and 80 hours of bereavement leave. 

“The committee did a great job and we made some big gains that are important to our members,” said Union President Pat Waller. “A large portion of our members are women and the addition of paid maternity leave is a huge improvement over relying on sick leave as we did in the previous contact,” she said.