OU flouts overwhelming faculty union majority and SERB decision with frivolous appeal.

ATHENS, OH — Members of the United Academics of Ohio University (UAOU) are undeterred by Ohio University’s (OU) appeal of their unsuccessful objection to certification of the faculty union. OU’s action ignoring the will of the majority of their faculty threatens to divide the university community at a time when unity is needed to push back on state and federal attacks on the academic and financial independence of universities and colleges. 

"The House budget throws the Fair School Funding Plan out the window, pulling the rug out from students and from districts that need a reliable source of funding to make long term plans. While Rep. Stewart claims that the state can’t afford full and fair school funding, the House budget proposal would direct more public dollars toward a new voucher for non-chartered, private schools which follow practically no state guidelines on student safety or academics."

“SB 1/HB 6 is a slow motion wrecking ball aimed at Ohio’s public colleges and universities. It will strip faculty of their collective bargaining rights, demolish bedrock principles of academic freedom, overload administration with unfunded mandates, and put politicians in charge of what can be taught and discussed. This will drive talented faculty, staff, and students out of Ohio, lower the quality of research and education, and erode the prestige and reputation of some of the finest public universities in the country."

“Whether it’s providing students with a quiet place to do homework and parents with a safe and enriching place to bring young kids, serving as a community hub for resources on social services, employment, and other needs, or just providing free information and entertainment to all Ohioans, our public libraries deliver real tangible benefits to Ohio communities every day. To continue to provide robust public services and resources, libraries need more, not less, support from partners in state and federal government."

PICKERINGTON, OH — Librarians and other workers at Pickerington Public Library (PPL) voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contract. Members of the union, Pickerington Public Library United Staff (PPLUS), voted electronically throughout the last week. The PPL Board of Trustees voted to ratify the agreement during their Board meeting on Monday evening. The contract includes annual raises, longevity pay, additional paid leave, protection against unfair discipline, and a collaborative Labor-Management Committee.

"Now they’re trying to gut the Department of Education, and the people who will be harmed in the process will be children, college students, and families. Firing more than 1300 Department of Education workers, including hundreds who work on student financial aid and civil rights protections, will not reduce the deficit. Rather, it will create enormous harm by eroding the government's ability to support successful strategies that improve children’s academic outcomes and help students afford higher education."