President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, Tim Burga, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast where he discussed the success of union members on election day in Ohio. Burga also discussed the ongoing redistricting conversation in the state and a bill that could impact educators in higher education.
The labor movement in Ohio had a relatively successful election day last month, with several union members and union supporters being elected to office. Burga discussed the pro-union issues on the ballot that were successfully passed. Overall, 27 of the 40 union members who ran for a position were victorious, and 160 union-supported candidates won their races.
For the seventh time, he district maps in Ohio were determined by the Ohio Supreme Court to be illegally drawn earlier in 2023. There is an effort underway by Citizens Not Politicians to collect signatures for a ballot issue. This petition would take the redistricting process out of the politician's hands and instead give the power to an independent committee appointed by an impartial panel of judges.
There is an attempt to rein in educators in higher education from teaching socially aware topics. Burga said that in the process, the bill would interfere with the ability of those educators to bargain properly. The Speaker of the House in Ohio has said there are not enough votes to pass the bill. Burga said this is another piece of legislature that would not have a chance to be passed without the currently gerrymandered maps.
For more from Burga, please take a listen to the show above.