Benefits of O.P.B.A. Membership

General Legal Representation

The O.P.B.A provides legal representation of both a defensive as well as offensive nature to its members in good standing.

A. In defensive actions, typically disciplinary action taken by the employer, the O.P.B.A. provides legal representation at both the administrative level (civil service commission, state personnel board of review) and in common pleas court.  The O.P.B.A. pays all costs in connection with these proceedings including filing fees in court, the transcript of the administrative proceedings compiled by a court stenographer (to be filed in court), etc.

B. The O.P.B.A provides legal representation in defending its members against false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and civil rights, etc., lawsuits, regardless of the amount involved in any such action.  Also, a member receives such representation, even if the case evolves out of an off-duty or part-time incident, as long as the member was acting in the capacity of a law enforcement officer.  Such representation means that not only is the member given legal counsel, but also, the O.P.B.A. assumes all of the other costs in connection with the case, including the cost of attendance of court reporters at depositions, deposition transcripts and costs incurred when issuing subpoenas.

C. The O.P.B.A provides criminal representation to its members if they are charged with a criminal offense as a result of acting in the capacity of a law enforcement officer again either on duty or off duty.  For example, over the past couple of years, the O.P.B.A. has represented a number of members who were indicted for felonious assault for actions taken while acting as law enforcement officers.  The O.P.B.A. represented each of these individuals at trial and all of them were acquitted.

D. The O.P.B.A. provides general legal counseling.  If a member gets into job-related problems, even at 3 a.m., he is placed in contact with an attorney within 15 minutes.  If there is an FBI investigation based upon a complaint filed for an alleged violation of civil rights, the O.P.B.A. provides an attorney in connection with the investigation.  If there are other problems related to the job, the O.P.B.A. provides legal assistance to resolve these problems, and where appropriate will initiate a lawsuit.

E. Any member of the O.P.B.A. (in good standing) will have made available to him legal representation by the legal staff, provided:  That the member desiring such assistance by the legal staff first contact the director from his department or the association office before receiving such assistance, and as soon as possible or thereafter forward a letter requesting such assistance to the association office.

F. No member has a vested right in representation by the legal staff of the association beyond the first level of adjudication.

If terminated or suspended in litigation, dues must still be paid.

Bargaining Representation

Under the collective bargaining law, the O.P.B.A. provides full representation at all levels of bargaining and, in addition, assumes all costs in connection with bargaining.

Under the collective bargaining law, there are potentially three bargaining units within any law enforcement agency:

(1) a patrolman's unit,
(2) a unite comprised of officers holding the ranks of sergeant and above excluding the chief and "…those individuals who, in the absence of the chief, are authorized to exercise the authority and perform the duties of the chief" and
(3) civilian personnel.

A public employer can agree to include these three "groups" within one large bargaining unit but in the absence of such agreement, each unit must bargain separately - the State Employment Relations Board ("Board") will not issue an order requiring that an employer bargain with the three units together.

Bargaining under the law contemplates five separate stages:

(1) face-to-face negotiations with the employer,
(2) mediation,
(3) fact finding,
(4a) binding impasse arbitration for law enforcement officers and
(4b) the right to strike for civilian personnel, and
(5) possible court action in the form of an appeal from an arbitration award.

Each of these stages has its own costs.  For example, in fact finding, the union is required to pay one quarter of the costs involved - the daily rates for the members of the fact finding panel of which there may be as many as three (3) (daily rates for each member of the panel would normally be $300-$350).  In binding impasse arbitration, under the statute, the union is required to pay one half of the total costs, again, including the arbitrator's fee.  The O.P.B.A. will pay all costs associated with bargaining.

The O.P.B.A. will provide an attorney or business agent before the first level of bargaining to assist the bargaining unit in both framing its demands and preparing appropriate contract language.  O.P.B.A. representation will continue throughout all five levels of bargaining.  Thus, an O.P.B.A. negotiator will attend each meeting with the employer and the unit's bargaining committee and every meeting at each level of bargaining identified above.

Under the law and under appropriate circumstances, an unfair labor practice charge can be filed against an employer.  If, for example, an employer refuses to bargain in good faith, a "refusal to bargain" charge can and will be filed by the O.P.B.A. before the Board in Columbus.  An O.P.B.A. attorney will prepare and file all charges and attend and represent the interests of the bargaining unit at the hearing.  The O.P.B.A. will also defend against any charges filed against a bargaining unit by the employer.

Miscellaneous Benefits

Sick benefit - $25 check, providing member is hospitalized and in good standing at the time of the incident and at the time of the request for benefit.  (You must notify the Office within 30 days of the incident to receive the benefit.)

Injured-in-the-line-of-duty Benefit - If injured while making a physical arrest, $50, providing injury occurred on duty and was serious enough to miss at least 1 day of work.  If wounded by a gunshot or serious stabbing, $500.  Request must be in writing and include a department incident report.  (You must notify the Office within 30 days of the incident to receive the benefit.)

Death Benefit -- $1,000 whether the death occurs on the job or off, plus flower benefit, for any member in good standing.

Blood Bank - Currently the Blood Bank availability is on hold.  The United Community Blood Center closed and we are in the middle of talking to the Red Cross to continue this benefit.

Promotional plaque and gold money clip badge to member in good standing in the O.P.B.A. for over twenty-four (24) consecutive months on a promotion in the same department. Requests must be made within six (6) months of said promotion to receive benefits.

Retirement plaque and gold badge with case to member in good standing in the O.P.B.A. for over twenty-four (24) consecutive months immediately prior to retirement.  In addition, members retiring with full service (25 years or more) will receive $100 if in good standing and an O.P.B.A. member for at least twenty-four (24) consecutive months immediately prior to retirement.  Those who retire at full service and have been an O.P.B.A. member sixty (60) consecutive months immediately prior to retirement and in good standing shall receive a $200 check. Requests must be made within six (6) months of said promotion to receive benefits.

Membership items include: laminated membership card, courtesy cards, windshield decal, bumper sticker, O.P.B.A. lapel pin, date log book and free subscription to the O.P.B.A.'s official publication, Police Beat.

Dues

Membership dues are $30 per month.  Retired members, or those on disability pension for less than full pay, shall pay $2 per month.  To be considered a member in good standing, a member must not be more than two (2) months behind in dues payments.

If you would like more information, contact our office at 1-440-237-7900 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 4:30 and on weekends call          1-800-457-4190.

If you would like more information about the O.P.B.A, call 1-440-237-7900  or     1-800-457-4190  or E-Mail us