Our Start

Although founder James Bowman tragically died shortly after establishing OCSEA in 1938, others quickly filled his shoes and turned OCSEA into an effective organization that has been behind nearly every pay raise, benefit improvement and retirement increase in the last five decades.

Records show that a few months after OCSEA's start, 150 members were paying $1.00 annual dues. In 1944, OCSEA crossed the threshold of having more than 5,000 members for the first time. In 1947, OCSEA's 10,000 members made it the second largest public employees union in the United States.

By 1975, OCSEA had 26,000 members, but membership leveled off as OCSEA faced increased competition from rival unions and employee organizations.

After affiliation with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and subsequent victories in state bargaining unit elections, OCSEA membership grew to its present level of 36,000.