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RELEASE: OFT Endorses Nan Whaley and Cheryl Stephens for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Slate of endorsements for statewide offices, congressional seats, and state legislature released.

COLUMBUS, OH — Today, the Ohio Federation of Teachers released a slate of endorsements for this year’s election, including endorsements for Nan Whaley for Governor and Cheryl Stephens for Lieutenant Governor. The endorsements were based on responses to OFT’s candidate questionnaire and, for candidates who have held elected office, voting history and experience.

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Frontline Client-Facing Workers at Equitas Health Take Steps to Form Union

COLUMBUS — Today, frontline client-facing employees at Equitas Health, called on their management to voluntarily recognize their union after they presented signed union cards from a supermajority of staff who work in related job categories. The proposed bargaining unit covers approximately 150 social workers, counselors, therapists, advocates, case managers, and other employees who work in Equitas Health offices across Ohio. 

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OFT President Melissa Cropper Reacts to Steve Dackin's Selection as State Superintendent of Public Instruction

May 10, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Neil Bhaerman, 412-266-4899, nbhaerman@oft-aft.org

OFT President Melissa Cropper Reacts to Steve Dackin's Selection as State Superintendent of Public Instruction

COLUMBUS — Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper released the following statement on Steve Dackin's selection today as state superintendent of public instruction. 

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OFT Members Julie Sellers and Elizabeth Jones Win Seats on STRS Board

COLUMBUS — Today, the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Ohio announced election results for three seats on the Retirement Board that governs the system. Julie Sellers, an elementary school teacher who currently serves as President of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, won a contributing member seat and Elizabeth Jones, a retired high school English teacher and Guidance Counselor who currently serves as President of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers—Retired, won a retiree seat. 

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Lorain Charter School Educators Avert Lockout, Ratify Strong Contract

LORAIN, OH — Educators at Summit Academy Secondary Lorain ratified their first union contract earlier this week. The collective bargaining agreement contains the strongest wage improvements and contract language among all three Summit Academy schools that have successfully bargained union contracts. The ratification followed a tumultuous few days in which management threatened to lock out educators and immediately strip them of their health insurance. 

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OFT Opposes House Bill 616

Columbus, OH — Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, released the following statement about House Bill 616, which combines legislation that bans so-called "divisive concepts" with legislative language similar to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law. 

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Educators at Menlo Park Academy Win Union Vote!

CLEVELAND, OH — Educators at Menlo Park Academy, a charter school in Cleveland that serves gifted students, won their union election today after the official vote count was tallied by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). They are the ninth charter school to form a union with the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Cleveland ACTS), a local union that is affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

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Educators at Summit Academy Secondary Lorain Win Union Vote

LORAIN, OH – Educators at Summit Academy Secondary Lorain won their union election today after the official vote count was tallied by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). They are the third Summit Academy school, and the eighth charter school of any kind, to form a union with the Cleveland Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Cleveland ACTS), a local union that is affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 

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Ohio Federation of Teachers endorses Tim Ryan for U.S. Senate

Earlier this week, the statewide Executive Council for the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) voted to endorse U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan for the U.S. Senate. The Executive Council is composed of educators, school support staff, and public employees who are members of OFT’s 54 local unions. “We’ve seen Tim Ryan be a leader in his community by fighting to protect good jobs when GM closed their Lordstown factory, a leader in Congress on workers’ rights and education, and a leader by example when he supported and recognized his campaign staff’s right to form a union,” said Melissa Cropper, OFT President. “We’re proud to support his campaign because he has spent his career supporting students, educators, and working people.”

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