General Overview
The Office of Collective Bargaining (OCB) was established in 1984, following the passage of Ohio's 1983 Public Employee
Collective Bargaining Act. OCB represents state agencies in all aspects of collective bargaining, providing a central body of
expertise in negotiations and administration of the State's collective bargaining agreements. As a section of the Department
of Administrative Services, OCB assists in directing the State's employee relations policies so as to enable agencies and
employees to provide high quality state government services. OCB negotiates and administers collective bargaining
agreements with five (5) unions representing fifteen (15) bargaining units. Over forty-two thousand (42,000) State employees
are covered by these agreements.
As the State's employee relations representative, the Office of Collective Bargaining:
>> provides guidance and advice in formulating management's philosophy for collective bargaining and employee relations
>> provides a framework for consistent labor relations policies in all departments and agencies
>> builds and maintains positive relations with labor
>>
ensures that compensation and benefit systems for State employees are cost-effective
>>
offers programs to increase the skills and competencies of labor relations professionals and management representatives
>> coordinates the state's resources in mediation, fact-finding and arbitration cases as well as in all labor disputes
>>
assists in representing state agencies in unfair labor practice and representation cases before the State Employment Relations Board
