Columbus, OH – On Tuesday, in a filing with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), The Buckeye Institute charged the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) with an unfair labor practice for violating the Janus rights of The Buckeye Institute’s client Ryan Smith, a United States Marine Corps combat veteran.

“Few would contest that workers are both legally and morally entitled to make a free, uncoerced, and informed choice as to whether to join a union,” said David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute. “But coercion is just what the union employed when it had Mr. Smith sign and turn in a union membership agreement before providing any information about the union, and then refused to return the agreement at the end of the orientation.”

As outlined in the statement of facts, at Mr. Smith’s first-day orientation, Tim Federkiel, president of AFSCME/OCSEA Chapter 2200, had new employees sign and turn in union membership agreements before providing any information about the union. Throughout his presentation, Mr. Federkiel made political statements, and when Mr. Smith asked for the union application back and told Mr. Federkiel he did not want to join the union, Mr. Federkiel “replied aggressively, ‘No,’ it was too late, he had it now.” Indeed, Mr. Smith has not received a copy of the application despite his repeated requests.

The Buckeye Institute’s filing with SERB follows the union’s silence on Buckeye’s May 15 demand letter to OCSEA’s state leadership, insisting that the union investigate Mr. Federkiel’s conduct at the union orientation. On behalf of Mr. Smith, Buckeye demanded that OCSEA rescind any agreement between Mr. Smith, the union, and its affiliates, including any membership application or dues deduction authorization. 

Mr. Smith, of Castalia, joined the Marines right out of high school and served in Al-Anbar Province in Iraq in 2004, in addition to Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Spain, Italy, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates. While in Iraq, he served as a rifleman, fire team leader, convoy security, mounted and foot patrol, squad leader for a mass casualty evacuation team, and numerous other roles. He also trained newly promoted Marine Corps lieutenants at The Basic School.
 
After retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Smith wanted to give back and serve the veteran community, so he applied for a position with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services and, in April 2025, started working at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Ohio. His work at the home has Mr. Smith wearing many hats and helping out where needed, most often serving meals. Some might say Mr. Smith’s work is not glamorous, but few jobs are as honorable as serving veterans, particularly when you are a veteran yourself. 

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