11.3.09
The Ohio AFL-CIO Workforce Rapid Response program held its second annual Educational Forum in Columbus with labor leaders, state and county workforce officials, manufacturing consultants and even the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor present. Read more
10.28.09
Ohio House Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi joined the October 20th meeting of the Labor Lobbyists at the Ohio AFL-CIO. Read the update
10.14.09
In addition to State Issue 3, the casino issue, The state’s most powerful labor organization has endorsed Governor Ted Strickland for re-election; Richard Cordray for his first full term as Ohio Attorney General; Kevin Boyce for his first full term as Ohio Treasurer; David Pepper for Ohio Auditor; and Jennifer Garrison for Ohio Secretary of State. Read the full press release here.
9.17.09
Today is a great day at the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention: Delegates just elected a historic ticket. Our new President Richard Trumka will be joined in leadership by two women, Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. Read more.
9.8.09
Fighting back against Republican charges that the Democrat-authored health care reform legislation pending in the House would harm seniors by cutting Medicare, Democrats are now running television ads against Ohio lawmakers. Read more.
 9.7.09
It's being called the largest minimum-wage case in the state's history, with 150 workers underpaid by about $408,000. Included in this suit filed by Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray are workers not being paid prevailing wage. Read the story.
8.25.09
Read Paul Krugman's great op-ed piece on the health insurance reform from the New York Times here.
7.15.09
On July 24, Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola will speak at a rally and picnic held in Canton to celebrate the Project Labor Agreement signed by city council to ensure local workers are used for new construction or public-improvement projects. Read the article here.
7.1.09
Energy legislation is moving through Congress and you can have a voice with Policy Matters Ohio and learn what the national AFL-CIO is saying.
Click here for more information.
5.30.09
At its May 29th Executive Board meeting the Ohio AFL-CIO, representing 700,000 workers in 40 national unions, endorsed a constitutional amendment initiative to provide service bonuses to veterans of the conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq.Read more here.
5.12.09
Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper announced his bid to run for State Auditor of Ohio. Pepper, a Democrat, was joined by Gov. Ted Strickland, Treasurer Kevin Boyce and his parents at the announcement. Read The Columbus Dispatch article here.
5.11.09
Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola is mentioned among the top candidates to replace national AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, whose retirement is expected this fall. But Rugola has ruled out the job, throwing his support to current AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka. Read more of The Columbus Dispatch article here.
5.8.09
The Unemployment LifeLine is now more than a lifeline to 60,000 resources for unemployed people. More than a lifeline connecting you to people in your situation, and information about how to get back on your feet. Now you can go to the Unemployment LifeLine and get answers from a community services expert with years of experience helping people find the help they need. Click here to ask an expert
3.31.09
A large Employee Free Choice rally was held in Cleveland Monday, March 30. Read about how workers are standing up for the freedom to form a union without corporate intimidation.
3.21.09
As the country and Ohio begin talks of "Buy American" provisions for use of the economic stimilus monies, a debate is taking place for and against. Read the New York Times debate and weigh in yourself!
3.11.09
A great resource on debunking the myths and lies about The Employee Free Choice Act. You can also watch the entire Committee Hearing here.
3.10.09
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid weighed in on a divisive labor union bill introduced in both chambers of Congress today, saying he's confident he can round up votes to pass the measure in the Senate. Read more here.
3.9.09
Trade Policies Are Crushing the Middle Class. Read more of Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola's Letter to the Editor in The Columbus Dispatch.
3.8.09
The new edtion of the Ohio AFL-CIO newsletter entitled The Worker's Voice is available for download. You can also read past issues bv visiting here.
2.18.09
Attorney General Richard Cordray announced the unprecedented collaboration of state agencies to combat the misclassification of workers. Employee misclassification is part of an "underground economy" in which an employer improperly classifies individuals as independent contractors or pays them "off the books" to avoid taxes and other required payments. Read more.
2.13.09
See how they voted on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. View House member's votes and Senate member's votes.
1.29.09
Reich: Enact Employee Free Choice Quickly to Help the Economy - Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich has some advice for those looking for answers about how to make our economy work for everyone: restore the freedom to form unions, and give workers the bargaining power they need to improve their own lives. Read the story >>
1.22.09
Ohio's Best RX just released the Winter edition of their newsletter. Get it here.
1.9.09
Buzz is building, with good reason, about whether two-term U.S. Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio will retire at the end of this term. Read the Cleveland Plain Dealer article here.
12.31.08
The Ohio AFL-CIO and its affiliates worked hard to get the Ohio Minimum Wage increased in 2006. Ohio workers, especially the lowest-paid, should take home a little more pay when the last piece of a 21 percent income-tax cut takes effect Thursday and the state's minimum wage rises by 30 cents an hour to $7.30. Read The Columbus Dispatch story here.
12.19.08
Although this "Lame Duck" session was not as difficult as the past several, Republicans were again determined to rush through legislation not in the best interest of working families. Labor lobbyists were ready and successful in defeating most of the unwarranted bills. The Ohio AFL-CIO weighed in against the following measures. Read more here.
12.11.08
The Canton Repository reported that the push to pass legislation for Special Education vouchers was defeated. The Ohio AFL-CIO was closely watching this legislation and helped to make sure public schools remain strong and vibrant. read the story here.
12.10.08
Ohio AFL-CIO Chief of Staff Tim Burga testified at the Statehouse today on SCR 27. SCR 27 is a resolution commemorating the General Assembly's support for the Columbia Free Trade Act. This in another measure that the Republicans are trying to rush through in "Lame Duck" to stick it to working people. Read the full testimony here.
12.14.08
Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola had an Op-Ed piece run in The Toledo Blade about the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act. Read it here.
12.11.08
The Canton Repository reported that the push to pass legislation for Special Education vouchers was defeated. The Ohio AFL-CIO was closely watching this legislation and helped to make sure public schools remain strong and vibrant. Read the story here.
12.3.08
The Columbus Dispatch editorial on the call for the need of a bipartisan solution to the unemployment fund issue. Says The Dispatch, "The governor and legislature should develop a long-term remedy to the inadequate funding of unemployment insurance. The federal government is riding to the rescue for December, January and February as the state applies for loans totaling $550 million." Read more. >>
11.29.08
Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola sumitted a Letter To The Editor for The Columbus Dispatch about the Employee Free Choice Act. Read the letter here.
11.26.08
As the administration nears completion of a new policy to bar "sweatshop" labor in state purchasing contracts, a high school field hockey team gathered in the Statehouse crypt Wednesday to thank Gov. Strickland for his effort in supporting fair trade. Read the Gongwer story. >>
11.5.08 -Canton Repository
It's official, for the first time in 58 years a Democrat will represent Ohio's 16th Congressional District. Read more here. >>
11.5.08
It's official, for the first time in 58 years a Democrat will represent Ohio's 16th Congressional District. Read more here. >>
11.5.08
The Cincinnati Enquirer boasts the headline, Driehaus ousts Chabot! Read more on how we took an anti-labor House seat and made it ours! >>
11.5.08
The Columbus Dispatch reports of the taking back of the State House. Unofficial results show Democrats picked up seven seats held by Republicans to hold at least 51 seats in the 99-member House. Democrats needed a net gain of four to win back the House. Read more >>
10.8.08
November 18-19 will mark the dates of the Ohio AFL-CIO Workforce Development Conference. Click here to get the information. >>
10.14.08
CNN visited the Ohio AFL-CIO hedquarters to show the work of labor in this very important election. Click here to see the story that aired in CNN, featuring the Ohio AFL-CIO predictive Dialer, areas like Ashland and Portsmouth and members hard at work!. >>
10.7.08
Nationally and here in Ohio, Labor is being seen as the driving force of turning voters toward Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden. Click here to read the article. >>
Workforce Development Rapid Response
The Ohio AFL-CIO has been awarded a grant by the Strickland administration to implement a statewide Workforce Development Rapid Response program. Read more>>
9.18.08
Still unsure of whether or not Barack Obama is on our side? , Click here to watch his Labor Day speech and see for yourself that he has the true workers' ideals at heart. >>
9.15.08
Not sure who to vote for in your District? The Ohio AFL-CIO has a list of enorsed candidates with links to may of the candidates web pages. To see the list of endorsements, click here >>
8.27.08
Unions prepared to be muscle for an Obama victory. When Richard Trumka, head of the national AFL-CIO labor federation, asked the roomful of Ohio delegates yesterday how many belonged to a union, there were too many hands to quickly count.Click to read more >>
7.31.08
Senator Barack Obama, the AFL-CIO endorsed candidate for president, spoke to thousands of union leaders. Click to read more >>
7.14.08
Ohio AFL-CIO, Ohio Conference of Teamsters and United Auto Workers, Region 2B, Endorse Richard Cordray for Ohio Attorney General. Read press release >>
7.16.08
Organized labor to pour resources into Cordray
Read Dispatch article>>
7.16.08
Ohio AFL-CIO Helps Launch Labor Veterans Campaign
The campaign kicked of with a rally in Dayton, Ohio, where nearly 100 union members, including many veterans, gathered for the launch of the Union Veterans Council. See full story>>
7.15.08
Secretary Treasurer Trumka Addresses USW Convention
Read more>>
7.14.08
For best health-care policy, voters have one choice in fall
Op-Ed by Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola and John Sweeney. Read more >>
7.14.08
Workers are united in their opposition to a proposed alliance between DHL Shipping and UPS which could send thousands of jobs located in Wilmington, Ohio and elsewhere. Concerned citizens, companies and labor groups who are adversely affected by this joining of DHL/UPS have come together in a corporate responsibility campaign. To learn more and weigh in with your opinion go to www.baddecision.org.
7.14.08 - Columbus Dispatch
Even though he has no major-party opponent at this point, state Treasurer Richard Cordray can expect a generous helping of support from Ohio's labor unions in his run for attorney general, the unions said today. Read more>>
6.26.08
Today, the AFL-CIO officially endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president in his race for the White House against Bush third term stand-in John McCain. See our Election 2008 page for more details >>
April 12, 2008 - Columbus Dispatch
Gov. Ted Strickland said yesterday that he would veto the new GOP-crafted electricity-regulation bill, arguing that it would threaten jobs and expose consumers to "unwarranted and unjust rate increases." Read full article>>
March 25, 2008 - Plain Dealer
Republican presidential candidate John McCain finally has an opponent in Ohio. ...McCain now faces an old foe of Republicans: the AFL-CIO, which plans to spend $53 million over the next several months in 23 states to portray him as the bogeyman in the middle class's nightmares. Read full article>>
CNN - Tuesday, March 4, 2008
LIMA, Ohio - Blue collar workers in Ohio are essential to who will win in the state. CNN's Tom Foreman reports on their concerns. See video>>
CNN - Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tim burga of the Ohio AFL-CIO spoke with CNN's Heidi Collins about the importance of the blue collar vote in Ohio's primary. Read transcript >>
Wall Street Journal -
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
PARMA, Ohio -- Marilyn Cameron, a retired nurse, may vote for a Democrat this year, a notable turn of events given that the last Democrat she supported for president was John F. Kennedy. The difference? The economy. Read more>>
Columbus Dispatch -
Friday, January 25, 2008
The United States blossomed into an international economic leader during the First and Second Industrial Revolutions in the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. Now many Americans worry that the bloom is off the rose. Read more>>
January 17, 2008
Read Senator Brown's press release >>
New York Times - January 16, 2008
...Slammed by the continued decline in the automobile and steel businesses, Ohio never recovered from the recession of 2001-2, and blue-collar families who had made it partway up the economic ladder find themselves slipping back, with chaotic effects on families and dreams. Read more>>
Wall Street Journal - October 4, 2007
WASHINGTON - By a nearly two-to-one margin, Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president. Read more>>
Columbus Dispatch - Friday, September 28, 2007
In its first reversal of a major decision in seven years, the Ohio Supreme Court said a fast-food employee who was injured after violating workplace rules is entitled to workers' compensation after all. Read more>>
Denver Post - Aug 2, 2007
DENVER: A liberal activist group this week accused Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer of selling his vote on the Colorado State Board of Education to David Brennan, founder of the Akron-based White Hat Management charter school company. Read more>>
Chicago Tribune - July 24, 2007 DAYTON, Ohio - No job lasts forever, especially a $30-an-hour assembly line job. Cheryl Seaton recognized that a long time ago, which is why she went back to college to pick up a degree that would insulate her from the economic wreckage she sensed was coming. Read more>>
AFL-CIO Blog
Working Families Vote 2008 AFL-CIO town hall meeting in Columbus.
Read more>>
Greater notice period, penalties sought
Toledo Blade - July 17, 2007
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio introduced a bill last night to reform a 19-year-old federal law designed to give notice to workers losing their jobs. Read more>>
Cincinnati Post - July 2, 2007
Both chambers of the legislature passed the budget Wednesday. Bickering has been intense in recent budgets, as political factions vied for their pet ... Read more>>
The Morning Journal - July 1, 2007
Second, Ohio has just witnessed the all-but-forgotten spectacle of constructive cooperation in state government. Lawmakers this week passed a state budget ... Read more>>
WTOL, OH - June 30, 2007
Both chambers of the Legislature passed the budget on Wednesday. Bickering has been intense in recent budgets, but only one lawmaker voted against this ... Read more>>
Cleveland Plain Dealer - June 29, 2007
Columbus- Yankee Stadium was brand-new when Ohio lawmakers last passed a unanimous state budget. Yep, it had been 84 years since state lawmakers in both ... Read more>>
Cleveland Plain Dealer - June 28, 2007
A remarkably harmonious state budget process drew to a close Wednesday as Ohio lawmakers voted to send the state's next two-year $52 billion ...
Read more>>
Cincinnati Enquirer - June 28, 2007
Legislators swiftly passed Gov. Ted Strickland's first budget Wednesday - a $52.4 billion, two-year plan that ... Read more>>
Akron Beacon Journal - June 27, 2007
And an $80 million increase in funding to the nursing home industry passed during budget deliberations in the legislature was pared back to $40 million, ... Read more>>
Akron Beacon Journal - June 28, 2007
The budget places a priority on higher education by freezing tuition at state colleges for the next two years, and creating the $100 million Choose Ohio ... Read more>>
Akron Beacon Journal - June 27, 2007
More than 25 years of local control of cable television have ended and statewide franchising has begun as Gov. Ted Strickland signed Senate Bill 117.
Read more>>
The Chillicothe Gazette - June 26, 2007
by John Schlichter, State Representative
Each and every member of the Ohio Legislature is responsible for upholding the Ohio and United States Constitution while working to improve the lives of all Ohioans in any way possible. Read more>>
Opponents were worried the bill would lead to decreased revenues.
Youngstown Vindicator - June 15, 2007
Lawmakers approved amended legislation creating statewide licensing requirements for cable television providers. Read more>>
Cities don't like pre-emption of franchise contracts
The Columbus Dispatch - June 14, 2007
A much-debated bill that would open the video-service business in the state to competition was approved overwhelmingly today by the Ohio House with no debate. Read more>>
- The Columbus Dispatch - June 13, 2007
Ohio channel-surfers could be one step closer to more entertainment choices and lower bills, now that a bill designed to do both has been approved by the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee. Read more>>
The Columbus Dispatch - Wednesday, June 13 - Editorial
Before a company can start stringing cables to bring video service to residents, it has to negotiate a contract with the city or township. Imagine having to make that agreement hundreds of times across the state and one can see why a company might be deterred from doing business. Read more>>
RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
COLUMBUS DISPATCH - Wednesday, April 11, 2007
As the son of a Belmont County coal miner who later became a steelworker, Bill Burga has union in his blood. Read more>>
WTAP FOX - Parkersburg/Marietta - Friday, February 24, 2007
Congressman Charles Wilson spoke to a crowd this evening in Reno, on a bill that he says would "level the playing field." Wilson spoke at the Electrical Workers Union Hall, about the Employee Free Choice Act.
Watch Video | Read more>>
MARIETTA TIMES - Thursday, February 22, 2007
Employees could organize labor unions without fear of company reprimands under legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. “We are going to move the Employee Free Choice Act through Congress. It does create fairness and takes away the threat of being fired by creating a more level playing field for workers,” U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-Ohio...Read more>>
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH - Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, said their top priorities include passing the Employee Free Choice Act...Read more>>
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH - Saturday, January 27, 2007
Angry that farm workers, many of them Latinos, are excluded from Ohio’s new minimum-wage increase, a labor group yesterday threatened to launch a constitutional legal challenge. Democratic Governor Ted Strickland will be in its corner. Read more>>
CANTON REPOSITORY - Sunday, January 7, 2007
...public records — including hundreds of letters to project managers, e-mails from superintendents and state evaluations — document problems with the tax-funded program throughout Ohio. Across the state, contractors with histories of problems continue to win bids to build schools. Read more>>
Group that supported minimum-wage amendment urges Gov. Taft to reject legislators’ wording of law
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH - Saturday, December 23, 2006
The coalition that backed the minimum-wage constitutional amendment is so unhappy with how state lawmakers worded the law that they have asked Gov. Bob Taft to veto it...Burga called the legislation "a slap in the face to voters." Read more>>
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL - Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Burga said unions opposed the bill because it exempts broad groups of workers - including home health care workers - from receiving the voter-approved raise from $5.15 to $6.85 an hour slated to begin Jan. 1. Read more>>
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH - Tuesday, December 12, 2006
In addition to home-care workers, the bill also exempts some fire and police officers and agricultural and amusement-park workers, as well as employees of the Ohio House and Senate, said Tim Burga, an Ohio AFL-CIO official and spokesman for Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage. Read more>>
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH - Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tim Burga, a top official with the Ohio AFL-CIO and co-chairman of Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage, said House Bill 690, the enabling legislation designed to translate the amendment into law, was written without consultation or input from a committee. Read more>>
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