Kasich On Senate Bill 5: 'I Am Very Optimistic' [View All]

[Joanne98]

Source: NBC

COLUMBUS, Ohio --
One day after thousands of Senate Bill 5 opponents crammed the Statehouse to voice their anger with lawmakers pushing collective bargaining reform, Governor John Kasich said he is optimistic the legislation will pass with the changes he wants to see enacted.

"I am very optimistic that there will be a meeting of the minds between the people who are moving this bill and our operation, and I think we'll get there. I feel very good about it," Kasich told reporters Friday afternoon.

"What we're trying to do is to restore some power in management. We want to narrow the scope of bargaining. We want to eliminate the right to strike, but we want people to talk, sit down, negotiate, get through this whole thing."

The Ohio proposal, sponsored by Republican Sen. Shannon Jones, would abolish collective bargaining rights for state workers and restrict teachers, firefighters, police, university employees and local workers in their bargaining abilities. Unions would lose the ability to negotiate salary schedules and step increases in favor of merit-based raises. Unions would be barred from requiring non-members covered by their contracts to pay dues.



Read more: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/feb/18/kasich-senate-bill-5-i-am-very-optimistic-ar-400586/