Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga on the Shutdown, Ohio’s 2026 Filing Deadline, and Springfield’s Workforce
Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the real-world impact of the ongoing partial government shutdown on federal workers and the public services communities rely on. He also addressed the economic stakes surrounding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian residents in Springfield, Ohio, where employers have emphasized the importance of a stable workforce.
Burga then turned to the 2026 election cycle, pointing to recent special election outcomes as a sign that voters are demanding steadier governance. With Ohio’s Feb. 4 candidate filing deadline arriving and the May primary approaching, he outlined the Ohio AFL-CIO's rules-driven endorsement process.
Host Ed “Flash” Ferenc welcomed Burga as the country continued to navigate a partial government shutdown.
Burga framed shutdowns as more than political theater. In labor’s view, they are a direct threat to household stability. When federal operations stall, workers absorb the pressure first—through delayed pay, disrupted schedules, and the anxiety of uncertainty.
For unions representing public- and private-sector workers alike, the shutdown highlights how quickly instability at the top ripples outward. The immediate impacts land on federal employees, but the downstream effects touch contractors, local economies, and families who depend on the timely delivery of services.
Ferenc raised Springfield, Ohio, where TPS for Haitian residents has become a defining issue for employers and stakeholders.
Burga described Springfield as a community that spent decades recovering from industrial decline. In this context, workforce stability is a prerequisite for economic momentum.
He emphasized that Haitian residents—often estimated at 12,000 to 15,000—have filled critical staffing needs for local employers. In Springfield, the TPS debate is closely tied to whether businesses can keep operating at capacity.
Burga also noted that recent legal developments provided short-term clarity. For working families and employers, stability—clear rules and predictable timelines—matters as much as the policy outcome itself.
Turning to politics, Burga pointed to recent election results as evidence that voters are seeking a different direction.
He highlighted Taylor Rehmet's victory, a union machinist who recently won a special election for Texas Senate District 9. Burga noted that seeing a rank-and-file union member flip a previously GOP district, held by a comfortable margin, reflects a broader appetite for practical governance and a focus on economic issues.
In Ohio, the calendar is driving the cycle. Burga confirmed the filing deadline for the May primary is Feb. 4. Once candidates are on the ballot, labor organizations will engage the field in a structured way.
Burga outlined the Ohio AFL-CIO’s endorsement approach: a rules-driven process designed to inform members and promote accountability.
The executive board will meet on Feb. 13 to begin endorsement questions. With races for U.S. Senate, governor, and the state legislature on the ballot, labor’s goal is to provide a credible framework for evaluating candidates.
The focus remains on records and commitments:
The immediate timeline is clear: the Feb. 4 filing deadline will finalize the primary field, and labor’s endorsement process will begin in mid-February. Meanwhile, the impact of the federal government shutdown and Springfield, Ohio’s workforce stability remain live issues.
For working people across Ohio, the next phase of 2026 is not theoretical. It is already underway.
In the Ohio legislature, Burga described a slower start to the year following a busy end-of-year period. As candidates prepare petitions and position for the primary, early legislative activity can be tempered by campaign realities.
That does not mean the stakes are lower. It means the political environment is shaping what moves quickly, what slows down, and what becomes a messaging vehicle rather than a policy debate. For labor, the months ahead will require close attention to both the legislative and campaign calendars.
The immediate timeline in Ohio is clear: the Feb. 4 filing deadline will finalize the primary field, and labor’s endorsement process will begin to take shape in mid-February. At the same time, the impact of the federal government’s partial shutdown on workers and services remains a live issue, and Springfield’s workforce stability remains a practical concern for that region’s employers and families.