Cleveland charter school teachers overwhelmingly vote to unionize

Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Menlo Academy teaching staff’s recent successful vote to unionize.

The teachers voted overwhelmingly, 46-3, to form a union through the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Cleveland ACTS), which is affiliated with the OFT and the American Federation of Teachers.

It was a tough battle, but the organization drive began with over half the staff wanting to organize early in the process, Cropper said. Management attempted to delay the vote by arguing the National Labor Relations Board should not be the one to run the election, which the NLRB denied, as it oversees elections of most charter schools in Ohio. Management also held captive audience meetings and claimed a union vote would prevent teachers from getting raises and could lead to bankruptcy of the school.

Cropper then spoke about Ohio House Bill 616, which if passed would prevent teachers from addressing sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Cropper called the bill extreme and an attack on Ohio’s public schools. However, she does not think it will pass because she believes it is being used as fodder for political ads to gin up fear, anger and divisiveness on the part of right-wing politicians.

Lastly, Cropper discussed the OFT’s support of two OFT members running for seats on the Board of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS). Julie Sellers, President of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers is running for a Contributing Member Seat. Elizabeth Jones, President of Cincinnati Federation of Teachers Retired, is running for a Retiree Seat. Both are running to restore an annual Cost of Living Adjustment for retirees and to restore retirement qualifications for active members.

Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: