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Columbus, OH — Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, and Scott DiMauro, President of the Ohio Education Association, released the following joint statement in opposition to HB 454, a bill that would ban gender affirming mental and physical healthcare for minors in Ohio. The bill would also prohibit educators and school counselors from keeping students’ feelings about gender identity confidential. 

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COLUMBUS — Today, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carl A. Aveni granted a preliminary injunction that will prevent changes to the composition of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Board while the issue is being litigated. The lawsuit — initiated by members of the Ohio Education Association (OEA), the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), and the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors (OC AAUP) — challenges an unconstitutional provision in the state budget that strips educators of their rightful voice on the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Board.

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ATHENS, OHIO—The fight for job security, protected faculty voice, shared governance, and against low and stagnant wages at Ohio University hits a new milestone as nearly 800 Ohio University faculty members have the right to collectively bargain today after the State Employment Labor Relations Board certified that an overwhelming majority of faculty voted yes, 453 to 189.

Members of the United Academics of Ohio University join the more than 1.8 million members of the AFT across the country and the faculty at 12 unionized campuses across Ohio who are members of the AFT and the American Association of University Professors. The AFT is the largest higher education union in the country.

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CINCINNATI, CLEVELAND, TOLEDO, AND ENON, OHIO — Today, members of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Cleveland Teachers Union, Toledo Federation of Teachers, and Greenon Federation of Teachers conducted literacy instruction for select groups of parents in their respective school districts. These trainings, developed by AFT) members and adapted by Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) members, were the start of a new phase in the OFT’s ongoing work to support literacy education. 

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ATHENS, OHIO — Today, an overwhelming majority (72%) of librarians and library workers at Athens County Public Libraries (ACPL) called on their Director and Board of Trustees to recognize their union. Copies of signed union cards from an overwhelming majority of library employees were delivered to management, while the originals were filed with the State Employee Relations Board (SERB) to request voluntary recognition of the union.

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"On behalf of all the workers at Kaleidoscope Youth Center, the organizing committee is expressing our deepest gratitude to the Board of Directors for voting in favor of voluntarily recognizing the Kaleidoscope Workers Union. This decision represents a significant milestone in our collective journey toward fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace. By recognizing the union, Kaleidoscope Youth Center leadership has demonstrated a commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all workers and a dedication to serving the LGBTQIA+ youth in our community."

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PICKERINGTON, OH — Today, a strong majority of staff (92%) at Pickerington Public Library (PPL) voted to form their union, Pickerington Public Library United Staff (PPLUS), in a secret ballot election administered by Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board. The new union, which includes 25 librarians and library workers, is the third group of Central Ohio library workers to successfully organize with the Ohio Federation of Teachers since 2021.

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“Congratulations to Pat Davidson, a teacher in the Berea City School District, on his victory. Pat has been an active member of OFT’s statewide retirement issues committee and is dedicated to using his time and expertise to advance retirement security for active and retired educators in Ohio. Pat’s focus is on pushing STRS to make the changes needed to restore benefits to active and retired members.  MORE

“We are disappointed that Governor DeWine signed HB 99 into law despite widespread concern from educators, parents, and public safety professionals. Allowing more guns in our schools, without the necessary training to ensure those guns are kept secure and are handled safely, will make our schools more dangerous and increase the likelihood that Ohio students, teachers, and school staff will be harmed. Similarly, the new law that allows permitless concealed carry, will also make our communities less safe."

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Librarians and other workers at Worthington Libraries voted 80-10 (89%) to form their union with the Ohio Federation of Teachers, according to election results that were released today by Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board (SERB). The organizing campaign was driven by concerns that too many library policies, including health and safety concerns and paid leave policies, were being made without any input from library employees. 

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