Press

Statement from the All in For Ohio Kids coalition: Four years ago, lawmakers promised to fully implement the Fair School Funding Plan in the 2026-27 budget. Since then, we have been waiting for state legislators to make good on their commitment, so all Ohio children – regardless of wealth, race, ability or background – can attend a public school that provides them with everything they need to succeed.

Unlike the House budget, the Senate sub bill retains more of the elements of the Fair School Funding Plan, yet when taken as a whole, it underfunds schools, increases uncertainty for districts, and makes it harder for districts to pass levies necessary to fill the gaps created by the continued shortchanging of education by the state.

“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."

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Federation of Teachers is opposed to HB 556 and HB 622 and plans to testify against these bills if they receive legislative hearings, the union announced today. HB 556 would change existing laws in order to subject teachers and librarians to a felony charge for the offense of pandering obscenity, without providing sufficient clarity on what constitutes obscenity. HB 622 would require public libraries to adopt a policy that prohibits its libraries from displaying matter that may be “harmful to juveniles.” Under HB 662, an Ohio resident can file a complaint against any library system in the state, and libraries that are found to have violated the law would be stripped of their state funding. 

For workers at Grandview Heights Public Library (GHPL), today is the first workday covered by a union contract. This is the first contract agreement for GHPL and Grandview Heights Public Library United (GHPLU) – the union of librarians and library workers. The contract makes meaningful improvements on paid leave and job security, ensures continued competitive wages, and provides a framework for ongoing collaboration. 

COLUMBUS — Today, 72% of full-time and adjunct faculty at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) submitted signed union cards to the National Labor Relations Board. The cards authorize the formation of a union affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Teachers. Due to that large majority, the CCAD Faculty Alliance (CFA) is calling for the CCAD Board of Trustees to voluntarily recognize their union. 

Columbus, OH — Today, teachers and staff at the KIPP Columbus charter school called on their superintendent and board of directors to voluntarily recognize their union after they presented signed union cards from an overwhelming majority of teachers, paraprofessionals, intervention specialists, social workers, and student life coordinators. The organizing campaign is led by educators from all four schools (Primary, Elementary, Middle, and High) at the KIPP Columbus campus.  

A majority of frontline client-facing employees at Equitas Health voted to form their union with the Ohio Federation of Teachers, according to election results that were released today by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The bargaining unit includes approximately 175 social workers, counselors, therapists, advocates, case managers, and other employees who work in Equitas Health offices across Ohio. 

Today, Innovation Ohio and the Ohio Federation of Teachers co-hosted a virtual "speak out" against deceptive attacks on honesty in education which aim to prohibit schools from teaching accurate history about racism, sexism, prejudice, and other issues. Educators, parents, and allies spoke about the dangers of curriculum bans and urged Ohioans to stand for honest, accurate, diverse education in schools.

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.

DELAWARE, OHIO — A strong majority of staff at Delaware County District Library (DCDL) voted to form their union, Delaware County United Library Staff (DCULS), according to secret ballot election results released today by Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board (SERB). The results showed that 82% of valid ballots voted in favor of the union. The new union, which includes 85 librarians and library workers, is the sixth group of Ohio library workers – and the fifth in central Ohio – to successfully organize with the Ohio Federation of Teachers since 2021.