President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Melissa Cropper, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about a lack of awareness from Ohio politicians, continuing their momentum from 2023 and organizing librarians across America.
Ohio House Bill 68 has garnered a lot of attention both nationally and statewide. Cropper went on to discuss the two basic parts of the bill. Gov. Mike DeWine decided the topics in the bill should not be regulated by parents, not politicians, and vetoed the bill, Cropper said. Following the veto, the Ohio Senate voted along party lines to overturn the veto despite the public voicing their disagreement with the bill. Cropper said this is a perfect example of politicians ignoring the public's desires.
The OFT continued its pro-worker momentum from 2023, winning a first contract for librarians at Grandview Heights Public Library. The first contract was settled in December, ensuring workers returned in 2024 under their first pro-worker contract. Among the wins in the first contract were important protections and benefits, along with much-needed wage increases for the workers.
The Pickerington Public Library won their union election just before they went on Christmas break. The Columbus College of Art and Design also won their union election around the same time, which Cropper hopes will pave the way for more librarians to seek union protections. For Cropper, it is a special cause for organizing librarians, as she began working at a library in high school and experienced the daily issues librarians face firsthand.
Learn more about the OFT’s organizing and negotiation work by listening to the show above.