As Ohioans head to the polls this Election Day, Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, reflects on the importance of local elections, union member participation in government, the challenges of redistricting and ongoing efforts to safeguard public pensions on this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast.
With about 180 labor-endorsed candidates running for municipal and school board positions, Burga emphasized the significance of electing public officials who understand the needs of working people. Burga noted that over 50 union members were running for office this cycle. The AFL-CIO’s Path to Power program continues to support union members seeking elected positions, reflecting steady engagement in grassroots politics.
Regarding Ohio's redistricting battle, Burga described the process as “deja vu.” After years of contentious map-drawing, a compromise was reached for new congressional districts that will be in effect for upcoming election cycles. While some districts became more competitive, Burga acknowledged that most of the attention will be on retaining key seats for endorsed candidates. He echoed comments from the United Auto Workers Region 2B Director Dave Green, stressing that “fair maps are not a partisan issue — they are a democracy issue.” Burga called for an end to political insiders manipulating district boundaries, undermining the working people's voice.
Public sector pensions remain a hot topic in Ohio, where Burga and the Ohio AFL-CIO recently met with six major unions and formed the Ohio Pension Coalition. Their goal: To ensure pensions are properly governed and funded, protecting retirement security for workers who have dedicated their lives to public service. Burga said the goal is to be there to provide the proper information so legislators can make the best decisions, stressing the importance of vigilance and advocacy as leaders debate pension legislation.
Learn more about Burga and the Ohio AFL-CIO’s role in educating policymakers and voters during this election cycle on this episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast.
America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.
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