Ohio Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO

Photos of 4 librarians and library workers.

Organize a Union at Your Library!

Librarians and library workers across central Ohio are uniting for job security, fair wages, and a voice in workplace policies. Contact us to learn how to organize your library!

Discounted Online Graduate Courses for OFT Members Only

Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), Ursuline College and Virtual Education Software (VESi) have partnered to offer OFT members access to online courses available for graduate credit. Learn more today!

Congratulations to Our 2023 Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to Clare Dolan and Derek Pfeiffer, our 2023 Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship winners!

OFT Asks Auditor of State Keith Faber to Investigate Public Education Funds Used for Union-Busting

The Ohio Federation of Teachers sent the following letter to Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber in response to his office's actions to investigate school district spending on voucher litigation. We are asking Auditor Faber to instead investigate the use of public education dollars on union-busting at Ohio charter schools.

COLUMBUS — Today, a strong majority of educators at KIPP Columbus voted to form their union, KIPP Columbus ACTS (Alliance for Charter Teachers & Staff) in a secret ballot election administered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The vote followed a months-long union busting campaign by KIPP Columbus’s administration. The union includes approximately 130 teachers, intervention specialists, social workers, teacher fellows, student life coordinators, and paraprofessionals who work at the four schools on the KIPP Columbus campus (Primary, Elementary, Middle, and High). MORE

Yes! I'm interested in forming a union at my library!

Libraries are essential infrastructure in our communities, providing information, entertainment, and public services. In order to meet the needs of our patrons and to set standards that allow us to recruit and retain highly skilled staff, librarians and library workers need a voice. We also need and deserve fair treatment and job security. That’s why library workers in Central Ohio — across multiple library systems — are coming together to build their union and have a voice at work. Interested in learning more? Email OFT's organizing department at organize@oft-aft.org

Workers at Worthington Libraries Ratify First Union Contract

Worthington, OH — Librarians and other workers at Worthington Libraries voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contract. The union members held their vote on Monday and Tuesday, March 20 and 21. The Worthington Libraries Board of Trustees also voted to ratify the agreement during their Board meeting on Tuesday evening. The contract makes huge gains on the issues that motivated library staff to form their union, including paid leave, job security, and competitive wages. MORE

Tell your legislators: Don’t defund Ohio schools, libraries, and children’s services

Tell your legislators to reject two dangerous proposals* that would sabotage Ohio’s budget and jeopardize funding for public schools, higher education, libraries, children’s services, and other essential public services. Instead, tell them to meet their constitutional obligation to fully and equitably fund Ohio’s public schools.

*HB1 is a regressive tax scheme that would lead to big tax cuts for the rich and create a $4 billion revenue shortfall over the next two years.

HB11 would drain public schools of funding by offering private education vouchers to every Ohio student who attends private

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. MORE