Episode Details

On today's episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, we are covering a massive amount of ground—from the halls of the Ohio Statehouse to the structural healthcare barriers facing union moms across the country.

Segment 1: Ohio Labor Under Fire with Melissa Cropper

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joins the show to unpack three simultaneous attacks on Ohio workers and the democratic process:

• The Midnight Pension Raid: How a 1 a.m. budget amendment stripped elected educators of control over the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board, and the legal battle (plus House Bill 719) fighting to reverse it.

• HB 698 & Higher Ed Restrictions: How this compliance mechanism is weaponizing state funding to restrict collective bargaining and aggressively police DEI roles.

• Union Busting in the Stacks: A look at the Columbus Metropolitan Library administration's aggressive anti-union campaign ahead of a critical mid-June election—and details on the June 7 community rally at Franklin Park.

Segment 2: Breaking the Silence on Perinatal Mental Health

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Merrilee Logue, Executive Director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield's National Labor Office, and Arin McClune, Clinical Quality Senior Program Manager with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association National, to tackle the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in America: maternal mental health disorders.

• The Stark Reality: Up to 20% of women experience these disorders, yet fewer than 20% are ever screened.

• The Racial Equity Gap: Why women of color are twice as likely to suffer from maternal mental health challenges but only half as likely to receive care.

• The Union Solution: With 68% of mothers with young children in the workforce, find out how labor leaders can advocate for remote work, flexible scheduling, and integrated mental health benefits to build a culture of solidarity and support.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Labor Movement: Every victory starts with workers standing together. Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast to get the latest interviews with the leaders, organizers, and advocates building true worker power.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.