Across Ohio, union members, comrades, progressives and allies mobilized for the AFL-CIO’s Day of Action in support of Ohio’s Citizen’s Not Politicians anti-gerrymandering initiative and in solidarity with our union siblings struggling for the re-election of union-endorsed Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and defeat of MAGA Senate candidate Bernie Moreno.

In Dayton, union members and allies, joined by comrades, met at the AFL-CIO’s annual Take Your Kids Fishing Day where the Southwestern Field Rep gave a warm welcome and a concise briefing. Organizers strategically focused on mobilizing predominantly black and brown communities who would be most affected if Sen. Brown or Citizens Not Politicians were to fall short in November.

Working alongside the IUE-CWA, community folks and comrades canvassed union workers in a beautiful neighborhood on the West side of Dayton. One person pledged to register to vote for the first time in years.

In Cincinnati, more than 30 volunteers and comrades gathered at the American Postal Workers Union before dispersing throughout the city to canvas on behalf of Sen. Brown and the Citizens Not Politicians campaign. Among the friendly and enthusiastic crowd, the diversity of the surrounding community was well represented. The energy was palpable heading into the final 100 days before the fall election.

In Cleveland, five comrades joined with labor at the AFL-CIO’s kickoff canvassing event for Sherrod Brown. The canvass sought to energize turnout for the senator’s re-election campaign, as well as inform voters on the upcoming “Citizens Not Politicians” ballot initiative.

This citizen-initiated ballot initiative seeks to amend the state constitution to end gerrymandering by giving the power to draw electoral districts to the Ohioan people, rather than politicos in the statehouse. It will establish an independent board without politicians or lobbyists which will be charged with the task of drawing up fair district maps. If the measure passes, and its chances are good, the new maps will come into effect for the 2026 elections.

At what was declared ‘one of the largest campaign kickoffs’ in Northeast Ohio history, dozens of canvassers, including comrades, hit the streets in West Park, a far west-side neighborhood of Cleveland. So many people showed up that the bar that graciously acted as the meetup spot, PJ McIntyre’s, was practically packed from door to door.

If the volunteer turnout was energizing, the public’s reception was nothing short of electrifying. We all knocked on close to 120 doors in just three hours. Conversations at the door were highly encouraging. Most households were strongly supportive of Sherrod Brown and the anti-gerrymandering campaign, and the few on the fence still had a positive reception towards unions and the AFL-CIO. Interestingly, only a handful of individuals voiced opposition to Brown.

In central Ohio, volunteers and comrades visited fellow trade union members in neighborhoods throughout the east side of Columbus. Canvassers wore bright blue t-shirts with a picture of a caged canary and the slogan “Union Strong for the Dignity of Work,” both references to Senator Sherrod Brown.

Senator Brown has an impeccable record of standing up for labor and fighting for the dignity of all work. He has long worn a canary in a cage lapel pin, a gift from a Lorain steelworker decades ago. In the days before they had a union to struggle for worker safety, miners depended on the canary to warn them of poisonous gasses in the mines.

The level of support for working-class causes should signal the potential for mass-movement work in Ohio.

This level of support for a working-class cause should signal the potential for mass-movement work in Ohio. In spite of pundits declaring Ohio a ‘red state,’ it is clear from canvassing efforts like this one that there is still a genuine passion for working-class initiatives in Ohio.

“We dismiss the fake narrative that our state has been totally captured by reactionary forces. Everyday, we see the fight for justice and equity lives on in the hearts and minds of the working people” said Tim Zelina, who joined with other community members to canvas in Cleveland on Saturday morning.

Pro-labor causes, like Sherrod Brown’s re-election campaign, can, and will, win out in Ohio. By working lockstep with union allies and the working class, we will reverse the corporate takeover of our state and revive Ohio as a bastion of organized labor.

Images: Group picture by North Shore AFL-CIO (Creative Commons); Smile with raised fist picture by Cleveland Club CPUSA (Creative Commons).

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