UET Online Magazine

When OCSEA member Willis McClure III meets new employees at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ first-day orientation, he tells them about the Union Education Trust and all that it offers them.

“I say that ‘Today is the first day of your next job,’” he said. “Some people come for the job; some people come for the career. Either way, you get UET funds today.”

“The job you really wanted is the job you’re going to study for today,” he added.

McClure, a Document Delivery Technician who has worked for the Ohio Department of Public Safety for 29 years, has used many of the UET programs during his state employment. It hasn’t always been easy taking courses while working a full-time job and raising a family, but McClure said that it’s important to make education a priority.

“I tell people that if you have one hour a day to play video games, if you have one hour a day to watch TV, then you have one hour to go to school,” McClure said.

He recommends including your family in your studies.

“If you have teens – have them sit with you,” McClure said. “It’s like they are auditing the class. Integrate it into your daily life at home so you still spend quality time together.”

“I’ve gone to school, raised children, and taken courses. You find time. You make time.”

McClure, who is the president and chief steward of BMV chapter 2503 as well as the BMV assembly vice president, knows how important parents modeling behavior is to their children. His grandfather was in a union and his mother worked for the Ohio Attorney General’s office. She was on OCSEA’s negotiating team for the first AG’s office contract.

“Being a union member has always been a part of my family,” McClure said. “My son got his first union card this summer. It’s a rite of passage for us.”

McClure was on the OCSEA negotiating team this year and he remembered his mother’s advice: “My mom always told me ‘If someone tells you no, you have to work harder.’”

McClure appreciates the legacy he has continued as a union activist as well as public employee: “You look at your parents and don’t want to follow in their footsteps but then you do,”

“We’re public servants,” McClure said. “We’re never going to be rich doing our jobs. But we are always there.”

McClure is always there for his chapter members as well. He shares information about UET – what programs are available and what courses are new – at each chapter meeting. He also listens to and supports them.

McClure’s role at the BMV has changed through his tenure. He began as a mail clerk messenger handling registrations and forms that were mailed out. Now he is on the other side of the process, scanning in information and taking in payment. Staying current on technology and advancements is important and UET enables members to have employment security. McClure encourages his co-workers to look to the future and use UET to prepare them for it.

“Be so well-rounded that you are prepared,” McClure said. “If we don’t start changing our forecast and our outlook, we’re fighting against ourselves.”

The best features of UET are its online access and the wide range of educational programs that are available, McClure said.

“You can go to seminars to broaden your horizons on various areas of knowledge, or take training on new technology and computer programs,” McClure said. “It’s offered for every position in the state. That’s the best thing.”

McClure jokes that he has about 900 credit hours in a variety of programs and certificates including Microsoft, network administration, accounting, and photography.

“I’ve used the program for many different things,” he said.

McClure earned his associate’s degree in business management and hospitality with a baking arts track from Columbus Technical Institute, now Columbus State Community College. That is when he met his favorite instructor.

“My favorite instructor was my baking arts instructor, Karen Krimmer, who made me cry,” McClure said. “She was very tough on us. She was stern but had compassion and was willing to help. She said that in baking everything should line up like soldiers: things shouldn’t be different.”

In addition to learning about consistency in baking, McClure has learned about himself through his studies.

“I’ve learned to be a better communicator in that I’m more empathetic and compassionate about people,” he said. “I work well by myself. I am a fan of group projects but I’m the one who will hold you accountable for what you’re supposed to do.”

McClure knows what he wants to study next: “My next venture will be cannabis. I want to learn more about it and its effects on us,” he said.

“I hope to get a certificate or degree so I can apply to positions in investigation or compliance in the cannabis field.”

McClure is going to use the same skills he learned in previous courses as he tackles the next educational challenge.

“As in baking arts, you have to be segmented and get things done to set yourself up for success.”