Cincinnati
AFL-CIO
Labor Council
Friday, March 19, 2021

Quote of the week: “Politics is confusing, it’s image-based, everyone calls everyone else a liar — but people are going to get the money in their bank accounts.”

Conor Lamb, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District
A Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
Labor Movement Outraged and Heartbroken by Atlanta Shootings
The entire labor movement is shocked and outraged by another racist attack on Asian women in Atlanta. 

“Asian American workers are a vital part of our labor movement and have shown an immense amount of dedication throughout this pandemic. We will not stand by while members of our family are targeted,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “The murders in Atlanta are a horrific and disgusting part of the surging violence Asian Americans have faced over the past year, and reinforce that we all must continue to fight against anti-Asian racism in all forms. Our condolences go out to the victims’ loved ones.” 

“I sadly can’t say I’m surprised by this violence. This is what the ‘small racism’ leads to,” said Clayola Brown, AFL-CIO civil rights director and A. Philip Randolph Institute president. “It’s not just a word, it’s not just a racial slur, it’s not just a joke about eyes or carrying disease. Those things build a larger system of racism where things like this happen.”

Monica Thammarath, President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO stated, “We grieve for the eight workers who were killed in Atlanta. We take a moment to acknowledge that many of them were the aunties and immigrant women in our communities who face immense barriers to finding work and supporting their families. We also should not overlook the fact that these were Asian and Asian American women working in industries with few worker protections and oversight. It is misogyny and white supremacy that both empower white nationalists to acts of violence, and policymakers to exclude workers from protections when they are in industries disproportionately represented by women and immigrants. We will hold the women and their coworkers and their grieving loved ones in our hearts as we continue to fight for our communities.”

APALA released this statement on the shootings. On March 5, the AFL-CIO and APALA released a joint statement, Labor Movement Fighting Anti-Asian Racism in All Forms, following up on a June 2020 statement by the AFL-CIO Executive Council. We will remain vigilant in getting to the root of bias and work together in communities across the country to end racism in all forms.
Ohio AFL-CIO President, Tim Burga Testifies In Support Of Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline Project
PROPONENT TESTIMONY – OHIO HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY HOUSE RESOLUTION 13

March 16th, 2021 Tim Burga, President, Ohio AFL-CIO

Chairman Baldridge, Vice-Chair McClain, Ranking Member Sheehy and members of the House committee on Transportation and Public Safety, thank you for allowing me to submit written testimony in favor of House Resolution 13. My name is Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, representing nearly one million active and retired union members, including workers at the two Ohio refineries that are directly affected by this issue.

The state federation continues to advocate for an all-of-the-above energy strategy as we represent workers in all sectors of the energy economy. Our Executive Board adopted a resolution in support of Enbridge Line 5 during our meeting in February. House Resolution 13 urges Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Director of Natural Resources, Daniel Eichinger to make all efforts to keep Enbridge Line 5 operational.

Enbridge Line 5 stretches from Sarnia, Ontario to Superior, Wisconsin delivering along the way crude oil to the PBF Energy’s Toledo Refinery Co. and the BP – Husky Toledo Refinery, in northwest, Ohio. This pipeline runs through the Straits of Mackinac and has been operating safely for over 65 years. In April of 2018, news of an anchor strike, which damaged the pipeline, but did not rupture it, caused the Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, to file suit to shut down the pipeline.

Acknowledging the disastrous effects of a rupture and major spill, Enbridge has proposed funding a $500 million tunnel and replacement pipeline deep under the Straits, while fighting in court to keep the current lines operational. Once construction on the tunnel and new line is completed, the current Line 5 pipeline would be permanently shut down and removed, alleviating many concerns of an environmental disaster. It should be stated that pipelines remain the safest and most efficient way to transport crude oil.

Premature closure of Enbridge Line 5 would have a negative impact on the northwest Ohio economy and threatens over 1,200 permanent jobs, in addition to hundreds of construction workers who are hired for continual safety and maintenance upgrades. These are good paying, family and community sustaining jobs. Without the crude oil from Line 5 these refineries will certainly close doing great economic harm to the workers and the surrounding communities.
On behalf of the workers who will be negatively impacted by its closure, we urge this body to pass House Resolution 13 and work with your counterparts in the Great Lakes region to keep Enbridge Line 5 operational. Please reach out to my office with any questions or comments you may have.
A Letter from the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council to Cincinnati residents: "Protect City Public Services/Public Safety for all city residents, vote NO on the Cincinnati Housing ballot initiative."
“Hell is paved with good intentions.”   Samuel Johnson, writer/philosopher
 
Cincinnati, OH ─ The City of Cincinnati has an affordable housing problem. This housing issue affects too many working families and is made worse by many factors: lower wages, less good-paying job opportunities, rising costs-of-living, annual city budget cuts, rapid commercial and residential development fueled by unchecked public financing incentives (TIFS, tax abatements, etc.), zoning restrictions and the lack of vision and real action by our elected representatives. As Labor leaders, we share the frustrations of many of our sisters, brothers and community partners regarding the need to address the issue of affordable housing in the City of Cincinnati.
 
However, after reviewing the Affordable Housing ballot initiative’s language, and its short-term/long-term impact and consequences (both intended and unintended) on Cincinnati residents and City public services, the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council stands OPPOSED to this well-meaning initiative.
 
As we all know, the City of Cincinnati’s budgetary problems and revenue-generating issues is an economic crisis that has continued since the Great Recession of 2007-08. These problems were worsened when the Republican-dominated State Legislature and then Governor John Kasich dedicated themselves to eliminate the local government fund. In every budget cycle, we are challenged with the same circumstances: large projected budget deficits ($25.6M for fiscal year 2022, starting July 1st), City Department budget reductions, fewer City employees struggling to provide public services with fewer financial resources. Over the past twelve months, the coronavirus pandemic has further complicated the City’s fiscal challenges with job losses (i.e. lower income taxes), more employees working from home (leading to another legal challenge to City’s income tax collection), decreased parking revenue and decreased admission taxes. 

If the Affordable Housing ballot initiative is passed, it would require the City Council to transfer more than $50 million dollars per year to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. With a $400-plus General Fund budget, the ballot initiative would force City Council to make drastic cuts and possible department closures, including: Recreation ($16 Million), Public Services ($14.6 Million), Parks ($9 Million), Community and Economic Development ($10 Million), Economic Inclusion ($1 Million) and cut Health Department funding ($500,000 from the General fund). The loss of these vitally important public services would harm everyone and everything in our City and fifty-two neighborhood communities. 

Such City department cuts and closures would ultimately lead to massive City worker layoffs (1,500 to 3,000, leading to more homeless working families), cause the Cincinnati Retirement System to go bankrupt (affecting thousands of City retirees/pensioners) and negatively downgrade the City’s bond rating. These circumstances are catastrophically dangerous and constitute a real threat to the future vitality and viability of our great City, all to build five hundred affordable housings per year.   
 
To the contrary, some housing advocates argue that their ballot initiative includes several revenue source options. Upon a closer look, these options are unrealistic, require too many other contingencies (raising income taxes with voter approval) and are illegal under the law (e.g. using Cincinnati Southern Railway sale/lease revenue, raising income taxes on stock options). Even with the welcome news of the City receiving a large amount of desperately needed COVID-related relief funding, the Charter amendment/ballot language clearly states that funds from the State and Federal government “shall not count toward the minimum appropriation.” [See Affordable Housing Charter Amendment, Sec. 3(2)(f)].     
 
The sisters and brothers of Cincinnati Labor, including over 105 local affiliates representing over 30,000 union members in our region, are ready and willing to sit down with all local elected leaders (including State and Federal representatives), local Housing advocates, business leaders and community partners, to develop a collaborative, comprehensive and equitable housing plan, to help thousands of Cincinnati residents to find affordable housing and/or keep their homes. Despite its good intentions, the Affordable Housing ballot initiative is not a good solution and will cause much greater harm than good for all City of Cincinnati residents. As a result, the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council strongly urges all Cincinnati voters to protect the City, protect public safety and protect public services, and vote NO on the Affordable Housing initiative.

(Peter M. McLinden Esq. is a proud member of AFSCME Local 2461/Union Township and the Executive Secretary of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council - pmclinden@cincinnatiaflcio.org)
SAFETY IS JOB # 1
Safety is and should be the number “1” priority of all members both at work and away from the jobsite. Our families depend on us to be the bread winners and we owe it to them to do all we can every single day to ensure we are there for them today and tomorrow. Safety is every member’s responsibility.

The most recent statistics by OSHA report that 5300 workers were killed on the job in 2019 alone. 18% of those deaths occurred in the construction trades, with OSHA predicting that almost half of deaths in construction that year could have been prevented by keeping workplace safety tips in mind on the job. No matter what industry you work in, applying safety tips can prevent accidents.


Tips for Avoiding Slips and Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury in the workplace. Keep these tips in mind to avoid an injury:
  • As you walk, keep an eye on the floor in front of you for spills.
  • If you see a spill, never just walk by it. Always clean it up or call someone to clean it up.
  • Wear nonskid shoes when you work in kitchens, outdoors, or any other place where you will commonly be walking on slippery surfaces.
  • Never climb on shelving units or storage units to get things. Use only approved ladders.
  • Never lean on railings, even if they look solid. They could be improperly secured, and you could fall.
  • Always use safety harnesses when working at heights.

Tips for Lifting Properly

You may be lifting 20 foot lengths of pipe, a compressor onto the roof of a building or cast iron fittings for underground plumbing. No matter who or what you may be lifting, there are some key points to consider:
  • If you are approaching a box and don't know what's in it, try moving it a little with your foot first to see how easily it moves. This will help you gauge how heavy the box is.
  • Always wear nonskid shoes when you are lifting often or lifting potentially heavy objects.
  • Never bend at the waist and lift the box up with your back. Keep your upper body straight and parallel with your lower legs. Grab the item and push up with your legs, not with your back.
  • Never jerk your body around when lifting. You may feel fine after doing this once, but repeated occurrences can easily lead to injury in even the healthiest workers.
 
Fire Safety Tips

Some jobs carry an increased risk of fire, but understanding fire safety is important for any occupation. Keep these tips in mind:
  • Have a fire plan in place for your worksite, and make sure your employees understand it fully. Having a fire drill every now and then is a good way for employees to keep escape routes, meeting spots, and procedures in mind.
  • Avoid the use of so-called "power strips" whenever possible. They are often prone to overuse and can start a fire if too many tools are plugged into them.
  • Keep cleaning chemicals and other work chemicals in a well-ventilated room. Many chemicals emit vapors that are highly flammable and which can be set off with something as small as a spark from a faulty wire.
  • Know where all the fire extinguishers are throughout your worksite and know how to use them.
  • Remember that grease fires cannot be fought by dousing them with water. Oil is hydrophobic and also is the fuel source in grease fires. Water will simply splash the oil  around and spread the fire even further.
  • Falls, lifting injuries, and fires are dangerous and common in the workplace, but that's just the beginning. There are many possible safety issues that can occur at your jobsite, whether it is new construction, maintenance or working in an occupied building. Sometimes the best workplace safety arises out of simple good planning and smart thinking.
  • Every single workplace should have a safety committee and safety plan in place. If you don't have safety committees at your workplace, then propose one. If you work at home, you are the safety committee. Working at home or for a very small business isn't a reason to get out of safety planning.
 
If you don't have a safety plan in place yet, follow these steps when you recognize a workplace safety issue:

  1. Make sure that everyone else in your workplace is aware of the problem.
  2. Notify your supervisor.
  3. File any reports or documents about the problem.
  4. Follow up. Telling someone there's a problem is not a guarantee that the problem will be resolved satisfactorily.

Report it and later follow up to make sure the problem was addressed.
 
In the end, workplace safety is the responsibility of everyone at your job. Everyone has a part to play in keeping the workplace safe and free from unnecessary dangers and risks. By keeping these tips in mind and sharing them with others, you will be doing your part in keeping injuries, and possibly deaths, from happening on the job.
 
In Solidarity,
Bill
 
(Bill Froehle is Business Manager for Plumbers, Pipefitters and M.E. Local 392 and President of Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council - bill@local392.com)
Workers' Pensions...SAVED!
We finally did it - WE SAVED PENSIONS FOR MILLIONS OF WORKERS AND RETIREES.

After years of advocacy by Ohioans and workers around the country who never gave up, Congress finally passed a version of my Butch Lewis Act to save American pensions - and last week, President Biden signed it into law. For over a million workers and retirees, the multiemployer pension crisis threatened to take away the retirement security they paid into their entire lives.

Year after year, we fought together for a pensions fix when many in Congress refused to act, and I pushed Congress to get this done in the American Rescue Plan.

And on March 6 - one of the best days of my career - the Senate finally passed my pensions fix.

Now that President Biden has signed the American Rescue Plan into law, these workers will finally have peace of mind that they can retire with the dignity they earned. Senator Brown and Rita Lewis hold up a photo of Butch Lewis, Teamsters Local 100As many of you know, I named my pensions bill in honor of Butch Lewis, a legendary Ohio Teamster from West Chester. Butch passed away in 2015 while fighting against devastating cuts to the retirement security he and his fellow workers earned.
I promised his widow Rita Lewis and workers across the country that I'd never stop fighting until we fully protected their pension benefits.

Thanks to all of you who made Congress listen to your voices, we've now kept that promise.


Thank you. It's been an honor to fight alongside all of you.

Spread the good news with someone you know.

Sincerely,
Sherrod
UPDATE: Ohio AFL-CIO Southwest Ohio Regional Field Rep. Julien Johnson
Ohio AFL-CIO Legislative Agenda: The Ohio AFL CIO has released its legislative agenda for the 2021& 2022 calendar years. The Agenda focuses on: the Pandemic, Worker safety, Jobs, Racial justice, Education equity, Tax fairness and fair districting. Many of these priorities impact not just union members but all Ohio citizens and workers. These key issues will be the guide this year as we fight for Labor and working people across the state. With the collaboration with our CLC’s and Local unions, we can be a positive force that can pass effective legislation and give security to all Ohioans.
 
Infrastructure: The Ohio AFL-CIO is waiting on an infrastructure Bill to be announced from the Federal Level, Pres. Biden has vowed to push for a revitalization of Americas infrastructure with backing from the House and Senate. There will be a bill in the near future and will be shared with our CLC and members when available. 
IUE-CWA Walmart Action: On Saturday March 6th the IUE-CWA and Cincinnati AFL-CIO held its final action in support of the GE-Savant light bulb plant in Bucyrus Ohio. The Actions thus far, have garner national attention from the National AFL-CIO and the Wal-Mart Corporation. After weeks of demonstrations and pressure from the public; Walmart Corporation, Bucyrus city officials, GE officials and Union Leadership are discussing ways to keep the factory in Bucyrus. Sadly, after initial meetings, the Facility lost 81 jobs. However, talks between Walmart, IUE-CWA and Bucyrus local government continue. Thank you to everyone for participating. Please see updates from Heather Atkinson
 
COVID Relief: The COVID relief bill has officially been passed on March 10, 2021. The COVID relief bill includes funding for Local governments, stimulus checks, unemployment assistance and aid for small businesses. Sadly, the proposal for raising the minimum wage was removed from the bill and maybe reintroduced as a separate bill. After careful review of the COVID relief, the State of Ohio awarded 11.
Pro Act Summary: The Pro Act (H.R. 842) passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 225-206 by the 117th congress On March 9 2021. The bill had 212 co-sponsors in the House and 45 cosponsors in the Senate. The H.R. 842 still needs to pass the Senate with a 60-majority vote before it would be sent to the White House. President Biden has express support for the Pro Act as apart of his “Build Back Better” plan and his support for Organized Labor. The Pro Act is currently in the Senate and will be voted on in the near future. Currently 45 Senators support the Pro Act. The Passage of the Pro Act would strengthen unions, penalize employers for violating labor laws and eliminate ALL Right to Work laws. 
 
 Please review and participate in our Pro Act Campaign Actions! 
  
Call In: We are mobilizing and organizing members to participate in the Pro Act campaign by calling our Senators and telling them to Support the Pro Act. Please Call your Legislator and urge them to PASS THE PRO ACT. To Participate, Please Call 866-832-1560 and tell your Senators to PASS THE PRO ACT! 
 
Letter to the Editor (LTE): We are mobilizing and organizing members to participate in the Pro Act campaign by submitting Letters to the Editors to local Newspapers across the State. If interested please see attached file for Letter templates! 
 
PRO Act Informational meetings: We are mobilizing and organizing members through education. If you would like to organize a Pro Act Informational or want a short Pro Act presentation at your next Local union meeting, Please Contact me to set up the event.
 
Follow the Bill: If you are interested in following the PRO Act (HR 842) through Congress, Please Click this link! 
The Complete PRO Act!
Everything you could want or need to know...
Two Ohio City Councils Pass Resolutions In Support of PRO Act

With the passing of President Biden's American Rescue Plan that put relief in the hands of working people, local governments and schools, the immediate economic needs of the pandemic are being met. However, the work of President Biden's promise to #BuildBackBetter for workers continues and in order to insure our economy grows from the middle out, passing the PRO Act must remain a priority.
 
To that end, two Ohio cities (Lakewood and Dayton) have already passed resolutions in support of Congress passing the PRO Act. More cities and county commissions are taking up the resolution in the coming weeks.
 
“Lakewood City Council sent a unanimous message with this resolution: workers have an absolute right to form a union, and access to that right must be strengthened," said North Shore AFL-CIO Executive Secretary and Lakewood City Council President Dan O'Malley. "The PRO Act will do just that, and so much more.”
 
Dayton-Miami Valley Labor Council leadership echoed those comments.
 
"Across the country, working people know the best way to begin to unrig the economic system is to restore the rights of workers to form a union and negotiate a fair contract with the employer without fear or intimidation," said President Tom Ritchie and Executive Director Diane Walsh. "That’s why passing the PRO Act in Congress is so important. It will ensure workers thrive long after this pandemic is over. The Dayton-Miami Valley Labor Council applauds the Dayton City council for recognizing the importance of supporting workers’ rights by unanimously (5-0) passing a resolution in support of the PRO Act."
GE Lighting Workers + Walmart Campaign Update
Good Morning,

We want to once again thank you for the incredible support and solidarity you have shown for our IUE-CWA Local 84704 members at the GE/Savant Lighting facility in Bucyrus, OH. Here are some updates on the campaign:
  • Because of YOU - we have held over 200 Walmart actions in 23 states throughout the country! 
  • ICYMI - here is a great video with some of the pictures from the protests. 
  • We also had a fantastic piece in Business Insider which digs into the betrayal of these workers by GE, Walmart, and Savant.

What's been happening

  • We are continuing to work with members of Congress to keep the GE Lighting facility in Bucyrus.
  • We give a huge thank you to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and his team, who have been working with us day-in and day-out, to find a resolution to keep the jobs and the work in the community, including issuing a public letter to Walmart.
  • Thanks to pressure from our coalition, the Mayor of Bucyrus was able to get a meeting with Walmart to discuss keeping the work at the plant. Unfortunately, Walmart continues to dodge their responsibility in the situation but we are continuing to press for them to step up and do the right thing.
  • Last week, Walmart announced a $350 billion dollar renewal of support for American manufacturing.
  • Their handling of the situation in Bucyrus shows the exact opposite of their public claim - as they allow these American jobs to be shipped overseas on their watch.
  • The WARN notice expired on March 6, and the company immediately laid off 81 workers on the LED light bulb line.  
  • Because of the local union collective bargaining agreement, we were able to negotiate severance and other benefits for these workers.
  • Over 170 workers currently remain in the plant working on other light bulb product lines and are active in the campaign to bring those 81 workers back into the shop.

This week - management at the GE Lighting shop tore out a valuable piece of the equipment on the LED line and put it in the dumpster. We are putting them on blast for this despicable move! We are asking you to join us - please see the social media post below.  

Next Steps

  • Our fight is not over. We are continuing to put pressure on the companies - GE, Walmart, Savant, and KKR - to work out a deal to keep these jobs in Bucyrus. 
  • These companies have the power and the money to keep this work in Bucyrus - you can help us make the public push. 
  • We are asking everyone to post on Facebook and Twitter to keep the heat on GE and Walmart. Please see the info below on how to post.  

SOCIAL MEDIA POST

  • Please use the image included above for social media posts
  • Please tweet at and tag on FB to the following handles @walmart @generalelectric @gelighting and use the hashtag #StopDumpingUSJobs

Heather 

Heather Atkinson
(she/her)
IUE-CWA Program Director
937-298-9984
You are Cordially Invited to The 34th Annual Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Golf Tournament!
Save the Date - March 24! Celebrate CLUW's Anniversary with We Were There!
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is celebrating its 47th anniversary with We Were There, a play consisting of great historical women leaders to current activists in the present.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021
7:00 - 8:30 PM

This year, the program is available online. We hope CLUW members and supporters can join us and celebrate 47 years of America's only national labor union women's organization!

Please stay tuned for additional details.

Thank you for reading and celebrating CLUW's anniversary!
Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Update - Mar. 14, 2021
Governor Announces Expanded Vaccine Eligibility
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Cleveland State University (CSU) today welcomed the first members of the general public to be vaccinated at Ohio's mass vaccination clinic at CSU's Wolstein Center in Cleveland. 

The eight-week mass vaccination clinic is vaccinating approximately 1,500 Ohioans today and will ultimately bring vaccine doses to 210,000 people in Ohio. Similar to mass vaccination sites in other states, the site will incrementally increase the number of vaccines administered, and up to 6,000 doses per day are expected to be available by next week.

The Wolstein Center location was recommended by Ohio and selected by FEMA based on its proximity to a large number of Ohio’s high-risk citizens and medically underserved populations. To ensure equitable access to the vaccine for underserved and socially vulnerable populations, more than 300 local community groups are partnering with the state to help schedule appointments for those who face vaccination barriers. Translators will be on-site to assist those who speak other languages, and free transportation is available for those who need help getting to and from the clinic.

"This is an example of Ohio at its finest – citizens coming together to help ensure that all Ohioans, no matter where they live, have access to the vaccine," said Governor DeWine. "Today is a monumental day. With every shot, Ohio is moving closer to recovery."

While in Cleveland today, Governor DeWine also announced expanded vaccine eligibility in Ohio beginning on March 19, 2021, for phases 1E and 2C. Phase 1E includes those with cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, and obesity. Phase 2C extends eligibility to Ohioans who are 40 and older.

Between these two eligible groups, 1.6 million more Ohioans will have access to the vaccine. 

Beginning on March 29, eligibility will expand to all Ohioans ages 16 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine approved by the FDA for vaccinating those ages 16 and 17, but citizens 18 and older may receive the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The FDA has not approved the vaccination of children ages 15 or younger.

To book an appointment at the Wolstein Center Mass Vaccination Clinic or to find appointment information on the more than 1,300 local providers offering the vaccine statewide, visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. Ohioans can also schedule mass vaccination clinic appointments by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). 

The Ohio Department of Health, Ohio National Guard, and Ohio Emergency Management Agency are managing the Wolstein Center clinic with support from FEMA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Health Department, Cuyahoga County, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals.

“This mass vaccination site in Cleveland reflects a truly collaborative, federally supported, state managed and locally executed effort,” said Kevin M. Sligh, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “FEMA and our federal partners are committed to increasing COVID-19 vaccine access in socially vulnerable and underserved communities in Ohio and across the country, with an overall goal of ensuring anyone who wants a vaccine can get one.”

"Today is an important day in Cleveland. This type of large-scale site is essential as more people become eligible for vaccination and as new strains of the virus are discovered in our communities," said Mayor Frank Jackson. "I encourage every eligible individual to take advantage of the vaccine when it is their turn. Thank you to President Biden and Governor DeWine for their leadership and commitment to making the availability of COVID-19 vaccines a priority. Together, we can help slow the spread."

“This is a big day for Cuyahoga County—we’re launching a major attack on the virus, with more than 210,000 vaccine doses to be administered,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “This is a tremendous opportunity that can help our residents return to work, school, church, and to see family and friends again. Just in time for spring we have a chance to make sure everyone in our community can be part of this lifesaving COVID-19 recovery effort. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get the shot—not just for yourself, but for our entire community.”

"We're so proud that after weeks of hard work and planning by our team and our key partners, Ohio's Mass Vaccination Clinic at CSU's Wolstein Center is ready to open,'' said Cleveland State University President Harlan M. Sands. "It is critical to our mission as a university to serve our community on important issues like this one." 

The Wolstein Center Mass Vaccination Clinic will operate seven days a week from 8:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. and will offer first doses of the Pfizer vaccine during the first three weeks of operations. Those vaccinated during that timeframe will be guaranteed their second Pfizer dose during the fourth, fifth, and sixth weeks of the clinic. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be offered at the site during the seventh and eighth weeks. There are multiple free parking options near the Wolstein Center.

The state of Ohio is also offering two pop-up mass vaccination clinics in Columbus and Cincinnati beginning on March 18, and 15 long-term mass vaccination clinics will open regionally across Ohio in coming weeks. 
For more information about Ohio’s vaccination plan, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine.

Additional Media Contacts:
COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinics
The State of Ohio is sponsoring 18 mass vaccination clinics to ensure all Ohioans have access to COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes more widely available. Once they are operating, any Ohioan who is eligible to receive the vaccine under the Ohio Department of Health’s vaccination plan will be able to get a vaccination at any of Ohio's mass vaccination clinics. Find information here about each clinic and how to sign up for a vaccine appointment.
COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Check Eligibility and Book Your Vaccination

Ohio’s new Vaccine Management Solution (VMS) is a streamlined tool to help Ohioans determine vaccine eligibility, find providers, and receive updates. Check your eligibility and book an appointment

Need help or have questions?

Chat now with our Vaccine Support Virtual Assistant at vaxchat.ohio.gov
See a map of all providers in the state on our Vaccine Provider Location Search
Looking for a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you?

Visit https://vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov to see a list of providers vaccinating in the current phase.
Questions and Answers
COVID-19 Vaccination: Ohio's Phased Approach

Questions about COVID-19
Ohio Department of Health call center is ready to answer your questions about COVID-19

Call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)
The Call Center is staffed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, including weekends.
COVID-19 By The Numbers
Global Confirmed ─ 121,382,067
Global Deaths ─ 2,683,209
U.S. Confirmed ─ 29,609,194
U.S. Deaths ─ 538,124
Global Map        U.S. Map
Current Trends

Below are the current reporting trends for key indicators calculated from data reported to the Ohio Department of Health. The graphics and information were taken from the Ohio Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) website Thursday, March 18.
Hamilton County
Cases
74,922
Hospitalizations
2,725
Deaths
1,096
Clermont County
Cases
18,779
Hospitalizations
779
Deaths
211
Brown County
Cases
3,787
Hospitalizations
56
Deaths
53
Butler County
Cases
36,348
Hospitalizations
1,111
Deaths
544
Warren County
Cases
22,932
Hospitalizations
653
Deaths
283
Other Important Headlines: