--- title: Ohio Federation of Teachers Fight Proposed State Legislation description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Melissa Cropper of the OFT joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/OFT%20mic%20red.jpg --- 1 min read Season 4, Episode 77 # Ohio Federation of Teachers Fight Proposed State Legislation [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) April 18, 2023 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [Legislative Action](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/legislative-action) [Union Responsibilities](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/union-responsibilities) [Union Issues](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/union-issues) ![oftlogo](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/oftlogo.png?width=242&height=242&name=oftlogo.png)   Guest Name: --- Melissa Cropper Guest Website: --- [https://www.oft-aft.org/](https://www.oft-aft.org/)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/OFTunion/) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/OFTadvocate) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@oft-ohiofederationofteache1186) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohio-federation-of-teachers/) Supportive Documents: --- Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about several pieces of legislation proposed in the Ohio legislature that she believes are an attack on education or democracy. She also gave updates on multiple organizing campaigns.  Cropper discussed  House Joint Resolution 1, which would change the threshold to pass voter-iniated changes to the Ohio Constitution. Presently, the threshold to pass a voter-initiated constitution amendment is a majority vote - 50 percent plus one. If enacted, H.J.R. 1 would require more than a simple majority, 60 percent to pass. Cropper feels this is a power grab, as it takes away power from the voters and gives it to politicians. She also spoke about Senate Bill 83, which she said would interfere with college curriculum, restrict diversity and equity training, make campuses safe for hate speech and decrease the number of public employees allowed to strike. Cropper and the OFT are opposed to this bill, which she said will limit academic freedom, increase prejudice and strong-arm faculty into unfunded mandates. Cropper then talked about school funding and provided updates on several organizing campaigns including the KIPP Columbus charter schools, Miami University, Ohio (Faculty Alliance of Miami, AAUP-AFT) and various public libraries.  Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: ![EYEMED000323_Savethe70sbanner_615x244](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EYEMED000323_Savethe70sbanner_615x244.png?width=615&height=244&name=EYEMED000323_Savethe70sbanner_615x244.png)   --- 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/),... 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