Teachers seek SERB approval to join union

SHARONVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Teachers at a regional vocational training school asked a state board Friday to recognize the Ohio Federation of Teachers as their collective bargaining representative.
If the State Employment Relations Board grants the request, about 270 teachers, counselors and librarians at the four southwest Ohio campuses of the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development would be represented by a new OFT affiliate union, the Great Oaks Federation of Teachers/OFT.
A majority of the employees have signed cards to support the union's proposal to become their representative, OFT officials said.
Teacher Jerry Roberts said he and others backing the union want more say in policy and curriculum decisions.
Great Oaks administrators are aware of the unionization effort, said Jean Ciancio, a spokeswoman for Great Oaks at its headquarters in Sharonville, a Cincinnati suburb. Ciancio declined to comment further.