Ohio Dems Vow to Fight New Anti-Union Bill

[Charleston Chew]

Run time: 02:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJj22GcaGx0   Posted on YouTube: March 31, 2011 By YouTube Member: NewsyVideos Views on YouTube: 14   Posted on DU: March 31, 2011 By DU Member: Charleston Chew Views on DU: 575

 
From Wisconsin to Ohio. Lawmakers in the Buckeye State passed a bill limiting public sector unions' collective bargaining rights.

The measure -- passed by a razor-thin 17-16 vote -- would prevent public employees from striking and would require them to pay at least 15 percent of their health insurance costs. Democrats and union leaders are vowing to fight it.

It would also prevent public unions from requiring member dues and would replace automatic on-the-job pay raises with merit-based ones.

Cincinnati's WCPO reports - opponents say this is a fight that's just begun.

REPORTER: "Those against the bill will have 90 days from when the governor signs the bill to collect 231 thousand signatures to get the issue put on the November ballot. Reece says they've already collected more than 60,000 signatures."
TIM BURKE, HAMILTON CO. DEMOCRATIC CHAIR: "There'll be a very aggressive campaign to defeat this bill, by the will of the voters in Ohio."

According to the Columbus Dispatch - the move would affect some 360,000 public sector workers. Supporters of the measure say it's necessary to control bloated local budgets. Unlike union-curbing legislation in Wisconsin - Ohio's includes firefighters and police officers.

On Fox Business - commentator Andrea Tantaros says the fight against unions is bigger than Ohio, and states are right to look to unions for budget savings.

TANTAROS: "I think it will lead up to 2012 and the president involved in this. I don't think this bodes well for the unions. ... Unions trying to maintain these big generous packages in an era when we're all having to cut back I don't think is a winning message and don't think it's one that's going to resonate well in 2012, either."

Ohio faces a projected budget deficit of $8 billion. Ohio Governor John Kasich Says the bill helps address that because he won't raises taxes. An editorial from the Akron Beacon Journal says - on the one hand -- Republicans should be applauded for addressing spending -- but on the other -- they might have taken this one too far.

"They have a worthy idea... The current process lacks sufficient flexibility... Republicans couldn't resist partisan excess ... adding elements that amount to kicking adversaries when they are down."

But the editorial doesn't let Dems off the hook either:

"Democrats and their labor allies resisted almost any change... They disappointed in failing to counter with an alternative plan. They have engaged in scare tactics, their own bout of excess."


And while the fight against unions may be taking place elsewhere - Reuters notes the stakes might be higher in Ohio -- which ranks sixth in the nation in numbers of public sector unions. Governor Kasich is expected to sign the bill into law as early as Thursday night.


http://www.newsy.com/videos/ohio-dems-vow-to-fight-new-anti-union-bill/


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Ohio Collective Bargaining Limits Prevail, But Unions Vow Fight

"O-H-I-O! S.B. 5 has got to go!" protesters chanted ahead of a final Senate vote of 17-16 that sent the bill to Gov. John Kasich, who planned to sign it Thursday. The vote followed a day filled with Statehouse demonstrations by about 750 people, who raucously chanted and shouted throughout the process. After a House vote of 53-44, opponents spewed expletives at House members.

The vitriol wasn't limited to the Statehouse.

Leo Geiger, 34, a Republican who works as a sewer inspector for the city of Dayton, said he's "deathly afraid that this is going to affect me, my family and the entire state of Ohio in an incredibly negative way."

He believes the bill is political payback for unions' support of Democrats in November's election.

"I find this to be loathsome," he said from Dayton on Wednesday night. He didn't attend protests because he couldn't take the time off. "I find this to be disrespectful to Ohioans and disrespectful to the process of democracy."

The measure affects safety workers, teachers, nurses and a host of other government personnel. It allows unions to negotiate wages and certain working conditions but not health care, sick time or pension benefits. It gets rid of automatic pay increases, and replaces them with merit raises or performance pay. Workers would also be banned from striking.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/31/ohio-collective-bargainin_n_842950.html


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http://www.aflcio.org/issues/states/stateofplay.cfm

[Iliyah]

1. Good

I know it will be a up hill battle but its worth it. Vote these bums out.