Columbus, OH – On Thursday, The Buckeye Institute sent a demand letter to the state leadership of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) insisting that it investigate Tim Federkiel, president of AFSCME/OCSEA Chapter 2200, for violating the Janus rights of The Buckeye Institute’s client Ryan Smith, a United States Marine Corps combat veteran.

Given Mr. Federkiel’s actions—as outlined in the demand letter—Buckeye demanded that OCSEA rescind any agreement between Mr. Smith, the union, and any of its affiliates, including any membership application or dues deduction authorization. The Buckeye Institute has made it clear that failure to promptly respond and comply with the demand letter will result in filing an unfair labor practice with the Ohio State Employment Relations Board.

“When Mr. Smith joined the Marines, he took an oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States,’” said David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute. “He continues to fulfill that oath in standing up for his constitutional rights today.”

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. The most rewarding part of his job is the bond Mr. Smith makes with other veterans.

The satisfaction Mr. Smith gets from his job does not carry over to the government union. At his first-day orientation, Mr. Federkiel had the new employees sign and turn in union membership agreements before providing any information about the union. Throughout his presentation, Mr. Federkiel made political statements—including telling the new employees the union would “back anyone but that Vivek Ramaswamy.” When Mr. Smith asked for the union application back and told Mr. Federkiel he did not want to join the union, Mr. Federkiel refused. 

Tryon continued, “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. Mr. Federkiel’s actions violate this basic principle.”

# # #