United to Lead, to Promote, to Secure, and to Defend

United to Lead, to Promote, to Secure, and to Defend

By: Jesse McDaniel, Alabama Professional Staff Organization

The 2023 recipient of the National Staff Organization (NSO) Emil Oxfeld Advocacy Award is Tal Hutchins of Ohio. Although Hutchins is now retired, his former colleagues say he made innumerable contributions to union solidarity both as staff for the Ohio Education Association (OEA) and member of the Ohio Professional Staff Union (OPSU).  

Lynn Davis learned how to be an effective advocate within OPSU from Hutchins. She believes he is worthy of this award; one of the most prestigious recognitions bestowed by the NSO.  

“I first met Tal in 1989, when a member in my local faced a serious discipline issue. After this firsthand experience of witnessing his expertise and zeal, I became involved in my local serving as vice president/grievance chair and sitting ‘second chair’ through many arbitrations. I always say that I ‘learned from the BEST!’ I also served as local president and strike coordinator as Tal led us through a 10-week strike.”

“I was fortunate to serve as vice president/grievance chair for Ohio PSU when Tal was our president. Once again, his advocacy guided our union through tough times with OEA management. His defense of our PSU contract over business expenses was monumental when OEA unliterally changed the expense policy. More than 600 grievances were filed, and we ultimately prevailed.”

“In all of the years that I have known Tal, his advocacy has been uniform and relentless. He has never failed to provide his best defense no matter the issue or who the member was. He is a true union advocate!” 

Tal also taught parliamentary procedures at the annual Winter Advocacy Retreat for several years. In 2016, he covered for the official Representative Assembly parliamentarian in an emergency and has served in this capacity since. The parliamentarian guides the president on procedural matters and must be purely objective on the issues at hand. In this role, Hutchins’ knowledge and integrity are key attributes.  

OEA staffer and NSO Vice President for Program John Avouris says Hutchins helped him learn the ropes at OEA and promoted union involvement to advocate for him and others when Avouris was hired in 2005. They served together on the OPSU executive committee for eight years until Hutchins retired. Avouris considers Hutchins a mentor, “I have never seen a more thorough advocate than Tal Hutchins” he said. 

In 2000, NSO created the Emil Oxfeld Advocacy Award to recognize a current or past member who stands out in their advocacy for union family. The criterion for the award is a person who worked to advocate, defend, or protect the rights of NSO members with tenacity, courage, wisdom and compassion. 

Emil Oxfeld was a New Jersey labor relations attorney and consultant who worked pro bono on behalf of the NSO for many years. Those who knew him speak of his brilliance and his ability to recall cases and transcripts off the top of his head. Oxfeld was a dedicated advocate on behalf of union members who often broke out into song – typically “Solidarity Forever” – when giving reports to the delegates at the Representative Assembly.