Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a historic affiliation between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to work together to promote the interests of educational employees and protect academic freedom. Continue reading
Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss a recent national Hart Research poll that shows widespread parental support of public schools, teachers and teachers unions. Continue reading
Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss efforts to organize teachers at charter schools. Continue reading
Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss union busting tactics being used by the Menlo Park Academy administration to prevent teachers and staff in northeast Ohio from joining the OFT. Continue reading
Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss how teachers and school staff are already feeling “May tired” — the feeling of exhaustion teachers typically experience at the end of the year. Due to stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, some teachers are already feeling exhausted and wondering how they will cope with three quarters of the school year remaining. Continue reading
Worthington Public Libraries United Organizer Tara Shiman joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the vote by librarians and other staff of Worthington Public Libraries to join the Ohio Federation of Teachers union. Continue reading
Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Ohio House Bill 290, the so-called “Backpack Bill.” Critics say it guts public education funding by providing a universal voucher to all students in Ohio regardless of income or the performance of their local public schools. Continue reading
The Ohio Federation of Teachers is calling on Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to institute a mask mandate for all Ohio public schools, arguing it would reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow more schools to remain open for face-to-face instruction.
Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss why mask mandates in Ohio schools are necessary to protect the health of children and teachers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also discussed an upcoming union election at the Worthington Public Libraries, as well as redistricting efforts in Ohio that many argue continue to be heavily gerrymandered. Continue reading
Ohio teachers and students face another difficult school year, as the COVID-19 Delta variant ravages communities, especially among those who are unvaccinated.
Though the State of Ohio recommends school districts follow the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that encourage masking and social distancing, it has left those policies largely up to individual school districts. Continue reading
Library workers at one central Ohio library system have strived for nearly a year to organize and form a union. Steadily inching ever closer to achieving their goal, they face one more hurdle — the election to determine if the Union has the right to exist.
Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper has worked closely with the workers in their efforts and is proud of what they have accomplished. In the latest AWF Union Podcast, Cropper discussed the organizing drive, the challenges the workers faced and the need for an election despite being the only library in Ohio yet to unionize. Continue reading