Local Labor Leaders, Workers Host “Workers for Sherrod” Tour Stop in Lorain

LORAIN, OH – Today, “Workers for Sherrod” co-chairs Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mike Knisley and Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joined Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 23 President Kenneth Kudela, Lorain AFL-CIO President Ron Adkins, and North Central Ohio Building Trades President and LIUNA Local 758 for Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer Chuck Brooky to host a “Workers for Sherrod” statewide tour stop in Lorain.

The “Workers for Sherrod” statewide tour is highlighting Sherrod’s record delivering for Ohio workers and fighting for the Dignity of Work, the belief that hard work should pay off for everyone, with stops across Ohio. Ohio workers are lining up behind Sherrod, citing his fight to save the pensions of over 100,000 Ohio workers and his commitment to making sure every family has a path to the middle class.

“Under Sherrod’s leadership, the lives of Ohioans are undeniably better,” said Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary Treasurer Mike Knisley. “Together, we understand the stakes of this election and why we need so badly to keep Ohio’s best advocate for working families in the Senate.”

“The Dignity of Work is more than just a slogan for Sherrod, it’s how he wakes up and does his job every day,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. “Hundreds of thousands of families across Ohio can sleep better tonight knowing their pensions are safe because Sherrod stepped up and made sure Ohio retirees have the pensions they earned. Sherrod delivers on his promises and we never have to wonder about where Sherrod stands: he always stands with Ohio workers.”

“Sherrod doesn’t just listen to us, he also takes action. Because of Sherrod and his work on the Butch Lewis Act, the Bricklayers were one of the first unions in Ohio to have their pensions restored,” said Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 23 President Kenneth Kudela. “And thanks to Sherrod’s work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, American infrastructure will be built by American workers with American-made materials. After it became law, Sherrod came here to Lorain County to hear from the community about what we needed. Now these projects are getting off the ground and creating jobs for Ohio workers – including my members from Local 23.” 

“For years, Sherrod has fought to create a path to the middle class for all Ohioans and stood up against bad trade deals that hurt Ohio workers,” said Lorain AFL-CIO President Ron Adkins. “Sherrod has consistently supported Lorain Community College’s advanced manufacturing program to ensure that the next generation of machinists and tradesmen have the training they need to lead our state into the future.”

“Sherrod has helped create thousands of jobs for Ohio workers – whether they are building the Intel plant in Columbus or repairing roads here in Lorain or replacing old bridges across our state,” North Central Ohio Building Trades President and LIUNA Local 758 Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer Chuck Brooky. “While Sherrod will work with anyone when it’s in the best interest of Ohio workers and stand up to anyone when it’s not, Bernie Moreno has shown time and again, he’s only looking out for himself.”

Please find photos and video of the Workers For Sherrod event for media use here.

Sherrod has always fought for workers and the Dignity of Work to make sure hard work pays off for everyone:

• Sherrod has long fought for Lorain County Community College (LCCC) and their advanced manufacturing program that’s helping train and prepare the next generation of Ohio workers to build the technologies of the future and move Lorain’s economy forward. Sherrod led the bipartisan CHIPS Act, which will support education and research at LCCC.
• Sherrod pushed the Biden Administration to support the Bartlett Maritime Corp.’s proposal to establish a submarine component repair facility in Lorain which would bring 500 to 1,000 new jobs to Lorain.
• Sherrod worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with prevailing wage requirements, creating good-paying jobs for workers in the trades across Ohio while rebuilding our infrastructure. Sherrod also secured a significant investment to improve Lorain’s East 36th Street corridor.
• Sherrod has always stood up against bad trade deals like NAFTA that shipped Ohio jobs overseas and is fighting to make sure workers have a seat at the table for all trade agreements.
• When Wall Street gambled away workers’ retirement savings, Sherrod led the years-long fight to pass the Butch Lewis Act – which successfully saved the pensions of over 100,000 Ohioans. Sherrod named the bill after Butch Lewis, an Ohio Teamster.
• Sherrod is also working to grow the next generation of Ohio workers by organizing summer manufacturing camps across Ohio, including in Lorain, that give young people an opportunity to learn about a future in the industry.
• Sherrod condemned the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) ruling on tariffs after pushing them to extend anti-dumping policies and protect Ohio’s steel industry from unfair trade practices.
• Sherrod introduced the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act to expand pension and family leave benefits and give part-time workers more control over their schedule.
• Sherrod introduced the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to enshrine overtime pay protections into law and expand who qualifies for overtime pay so millions more Americans are paid for the hours they work.

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