U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the recent excitement that has sprung up for unions around the country, inspired by the recent successful organization efforts at Amazon and Starbucks facilities.
Brown said there is more excitement about unions today than at any other time in our lifetime.
He also talked about his own support of 55 members of United Steelworkers Local 14919, who are on strike against Sherwin Williams at the company’s facility in Bedford Heights, Ohio. He recalled that his own father was a Steelworker, and said that workers only strike as a last resort because their backs are up against the wall.
Brown then emphasized the need to pass the Richard Trumka PRO Act in order to make it easier for workers to unionize.
He then spoke about President Joe Biden’s recent decision to extend the moratorium on the payment of federal student loan debt to Aug. 31. Brown believes student debt will ultimately not be canceled, but acknowledged these loans have oppressed today’s generation of students. Wages need to be raised because people cannot afford to pay back their student loan debt, he added.
Brown also discussed legislation he proposed to triple the current $250 tax deduction teachers can take for buying school supplies. The average teacher pays $1,000 out of their own pocket for school supplies, he added.
Lastly, Brown touched on the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act, which is legislation he introduced to extend USDA school meal flexibilities from June 30 to Sept. 30, 2023.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: