--- title: OFT President Talks Libraries, Child Labor, and Pensions description: The AWF Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Melissa Cropper, Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/OFT%20mic%20blue.jpg --- 1 min read Season 6, Episode 229 # OFT President Talks Libraries, Child Labor, and Pensions [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) November 18, 2025 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [Ohio Federation of Teachers](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/ohio-federation-of-teachers) ![AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_oft](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_oft.png?width=400&height=400&name=AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_oft.png)   Guest Name: --- Melissa Cropper Guest Website: --- [Ohio Federation of Teachers](https://www.oft-aft.org/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/OFTunion) [ Twitter](https://x.com/OFTunion) Supportive Documents: --- On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Melissa Cropper, President of the [Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT)](https://www.oft-aft.org/), joined the podcast to discuss organizing campaigns in public libraries, recent and controversial legislation in Ohio on child labor and ongoing legal battles over the state's teacher retirement system (STRS).  The discussion began with an update from Cropper on OFT’s latest organizing efforts, focusing on the Columbus Metropolitan Library campaign. She highlighted the similarities between library staff and teachers, including challenges related to censorship, workplace conditions, benefits and safety concerns. Drawing on her own background as both a public educator and librarian, she expressed excitement about approaching the filing deadline for an election. Cropper said the push for unionization among over 600 library workers signals growing momentum for collective action outside traditional classroom settings, especially in the face of heightened scrutiny and changing demands in library environments following the pandemic. Cropper then discussed Ohio’s controversial Senate Bill 50, which would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. during the school year. She described the legislation as deeply concerning, particularly given ongoing debates about student absenteeism and academic performance. Cropper pointed out the direct correlation between late-night work hours, student fatigue, missed classes and homework challenges. The OFT, along with several other organizations, has urged Gov. Mike DeWine to veto the bill in the interest of student welfare. Finally, Cropper addressed the proposed changes to the composition of Ohio’s State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board. Cropper explained that while legislative efforts sought to reduce the number of elected board members, the OFT has repeatedly secured legal victories to maintain the current democratic process. Recent Lobby Day efforts brought retirees from around the state to speak with legislators, who voiced their discontent with the manner in which changes were introduced— “tucked into a lengthy budget bill in the middle of the night.” Cropper emphasized the importance of advocating for transparent governance and safeguarding pension security, cautioning against last-minute legislative maneuvers that undermine democratic decision-making. For more from Cropper, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast above. --- 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. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... [Read More](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) #### [AFL-CIO's Fred Redmond on the Convention, AI and America at 250](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/afl-cios-fred-redmond-on-the-convention-ai-and-america-at-250) : July 3, 2026 # AFL-CIO's Fred Redmond on the Convention, AI and America at 250 Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the [AFL-CIO](https://awf.labortools.com/), joined the [America's Work Force...](https://awf.labortools.com/) [Read More](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/afl-cios-fred-redmond-on-the-convention-ai-and-america-at-250) #### [C/COBCTC's Dorsey Hager on Drones, Data Centers and Growth](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/c/cobctcs-dorsey-hager-on-drones-data-centers-and-growth) : July 2, 2026 # Dorsey Hager on Drones, Data Centers and Central Ohio's Building Boom Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the [Columbus/Central Ohio...](https://columbusconstruction.org/) [Read More](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/c/cobctcs-dorsey-hager-on-drones-data-centers-and-growth) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "awfblog", "url" : "https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog" }, "dateModified" : "2025-11-18T20:47:15.367Z", "datePublished" : "2025-11-18T20:47:15.000Z", "headline" : "OFT President Talks Libraries, Child Labor, and Pensions", "image" : [ "https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/OFT%20mic%20blue.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://awf.labortools.com/listen/oft-president-talks-libraries-child-labor-and-pensions", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/labor-tools-logo-white.png" }, "name" : "BMA Media" } } ```