Hannah Halbert, Executive Director of Policy Matters Ohio, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the successful fight against Ohio Senate Bill 50 and to share her organization’s ongoing mission to support working families.
Halbert spoke about the collective effort behind stopping the passage of Senate Bill 50, which would have allowed 14- and 15-year-olds to work later hours during the school year, conflicting with federal law. She said the victory was achieved through grassroots mobilization, with nearly 700 Ohioans signing petitions, and a diverse coalition of organizations, from labor councils to UNICEF, reaching out directly to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Halbert emphasized that community involvement played a decisive role, proving that public input still matters and can prompt elected officials to uphold protections for young workers.
She also discussed the importance of maintaining public awareness about child labor law erosion, both in Ohio and across the nation. While the Ohio victory was significant, she warned that similar bills are surfacing elsewhere, and the state’s successful opposition sends a clear message nationwide. In Ohio, a broad majority opposes any rollback of child protections, and the outcome demonstrates how state action can influence the national conversation, supporting those fighting similar battles in other states, added Halbert.
Besides S.B. 50, she spoke about Policy Matters Ohio’s "holiday wish list," which advocates for a living minimum wage and a fairer tax system. Halbert pointed out that despite workers becoming significantly more productive, their wages have not kept pace, leading to increased economic struggle for many. She also explained that Ohio’s tax structure is “upside down,” with the lowest-paid Ohioans paying a higher percentage of taxes than the wealthiest. Addressing these disparities is essential to ensuring everyone shares in the state’s prosperity and to adequately funding public services like schools, she argued.
For more from Halbert, listen to 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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