Episode Details

Introduction On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we look at two major battles for public resources and professional dignity. First, we examine a ballot measure in Ohio that could strip billions from local communities. Then, we look at a wave of union victories in newsrooms that are fighting to keep local journalism alive.

Segment 1: The High Cost of Repealing Ohio Property Taxes Frank Mathews, Administrative Director for CWA District 4, joins the show to issue a stark warning about a signature-gathering effort to eliminate property taxes in Ohio. While the pitch sounds appealing to homeowners, Mathews explains why the "fine print" could be disastrous for working families.

• The $20 Billion Hole: How eliminating property taxes removes the primary funding source for public schools, township roads, and police/fire departments.

• Who Really Pays: Why replacing this revenue would likely force massive hikes in sales and income taxes, shifting the burden onto lower- and middle-income workers.

• The Service Gap: The risk to essential services in townships that cannot levy income taxes.

Segment 2: Organizing Wins in Ohio & The Future of News NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss reports on a surge of momentum for newsroom workers, despite corporate consolidation and layoffs at national outlets like the Washington Post.

• Victory in Columbus: Journalists at the Columbus Dispatch and Newark Advocate have voted overwhelmingly to unionize, strengthening NewsGuild Local 1.

• Pittsburgh’s PAPER: How workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are building their own community-centered publication, the Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting (PAPER), to bypass corporate gatekeepers.

• National Fight: The labor response to recent cuts at the Washington Post and why preserving newsroom jobs is a civic necessity.

Links & Resources

• Support Pittsburgh Journalists: Visit OurPaperNow.org

• Learn More About CWA District 4: CWA-Union.org

• Follow the NewsGuild: NewsGuild.org

• Listen to more episodes: AWF.LaborTools.com

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