Ohio would like to abolishs collective bargaining by unionized state employees

A dark cloud has gathered over Ohio and a fierce storm is brewing. A bill introduced by Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Spingboro, Senate Bill 5  would limit the power of public unions.

At 1:30 PM last Wednesday approximately 800 union protesters descended upon the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee hearings to object to Senate Bill 5, proposed by Senator Shannon Jones, to abolish collective bargaining by unionized state government employees in Ohio.

According to a Columbus Dispatch article [ published here ] 

“While Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Spingboro, insists she is not trying to punish state workers, her Senate Bill 5 is expected to ignite a war with the unions the likes of which this state has not seen in decades.

“I believe the vast majority of government workers are good people who work hard every day,” she said. “But I don’t think that everybody, by virtue of showing up every day, should be entitled to the same increase in salary.”

Jones and Senate GOP leaders say this is about reshaping government in a way that gives managers from the biggest state agencies to the smallest school districts the flexibility to deal with economic pressures and accomplish specific goals.

Unions see it differently. “This is a blatant attack on working people in this state,” said Anthony Caldwell, spokesman for SEIU District 1199. “This appears to be nothing more than political payback for organizations that did not support Sen. Jones or (Gov.) John Kasich.”

Michele Prater of the Ohio Education Association said collective bargaining “helps pursue the classroom conditions, the tools and the support we need for high-quality education. Any legislation that would curb collective bargaining rights would upset Ohio’s balanced framework.”"

Additional hearings are scheduled for 2:30 PM this coming Tuesday Feb 15 and 10 AM Thursday Feb 17, both in the Finance Committee Hearing Room. 
 
Many patriotic groups around the state are planning to meet up at the west entrance of the Capitol Building at 9 AM on Thursday, and then going in to the Atrium to show their support for Senate Bill 5; buses are being chartered from at least two locations thus far.  Participants are being encouraged to wear red shirts (union protesters last Wednesday wore yellow). 
 
Because many state employees need only walk across the street to protest and may not even take unpaid time off to do so, patriot groups may not be able to exceed their numbers in person.  Anyone who has a position on this bill should be sure to contact their State Senator by email or phone and let them know their position on ending Collective Bargaining for state employees.  Contact info for Senators is at http://www.ohiosenate.gov/directory.html.
 
In a New York Times article December 4th, 2010  found here

“State and local pensions — another form of promised debt, guaranteed in some states by their constitutions — face hidden shortfalls of as much as $3.5 trillion by some calculations. And the health benefits that state and large local governments have promised their retirees going forward could cost more than $530 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office.”

Ohio cannot turn its economy around while the government unions want more.  The battle for Ohio’s future is under way.