New Union Petitions Up Sharply in Ohio, Outpacing Most of the Midwest
Workers in Ohio and the rest of the United States increased their efforts to unionize in the last year, more than doubling union petitions with the National Labor Relations Board, according to data from the federal agency released earlier in the month.
From October 2023 to September 2024, Ohio union petitions increased by 226% from three years earlier.
This is higher than the 138% increase for all of the Midwest and the fourth-highest percent change in the Midwest behind Nebraska, North Dakota and Iowa. Ohio had the third-highest amount of union petitions in fiscal year 2024 at 124, behind only Michigan (148) and Illinois (209)
Part of the reason for this was fallout from COVID-19, according to Tim Burga, president of Ohio AFL-CIO, the state labor federation. “I think that was an awakening for workers to really understand their value and the leverage they have,” Burga said. “Many workers were classified as essential, but not treated as essential.”
Combined with a reconfigured National Labor Relations Board, that under President Biden returned to its original mission of protecting workers, Burga believes workers are more aware that forming and joining a union to bargain for a better life is within reach.