Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, rejoined the America’s Work Force Union podcast to discuss the AFL-CIO’s wish list for the state’s biennial budget and the potential for legislators to prohibit public sector union release.
Burga shared his thoughts on the upcoming hearings and negotiations that will take place to determine Ohio’s roughly $87 billion biennial budget. He highlighted AFL-CIO priorities and how the federation is focused on advocating to add their priorities to the budget during these hearings and negotiations.
Besides the budget, Burga also discussed an unintroduced bill co-sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) prohibiting public sector union release. A part of most union Collective Bargaining Agreements, union release pays union officers for engaging in union activity while being on the clock and receiving their taxpayer-funded wages. He explained what the bill could do to union members and acknowledged plans for the bill are unknown at this time.
He then touched on a request from former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who wants to be on a non-partisan redistricting committee.
Burga also gave insight into Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s State of the State address.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.