Ohio Teachers' Unions Organize Against Senate Bill 5

[Joanne98]

Source: Yahoo News

Although the majority of the nation's attention is falling on the public employees debate in Wisconsin, Ohio is lining up to be the next state in the limelight. Hearings will continue this week on Senate Bill 5 -- Collective Bargaining. While a vote has yet to be scheduled on the issue, teachers' unions in Ohio are organizing opposition to the proposed law. Union leaders are using their respective websites to reach the rank and file and attack Gov. John Kasich and Republican lawmakers.

Partisan rhetoric on the Ohio Federation of Teachers website states, "The ability to influence debate will be limited due to the new climate of leadership in the House, Senate and Governor's office." So far, the angst surrounding the proposed law has not crossed the public decency line as it has in Wisconsin. Protesters in that state have trespassed at senators' homes and networked with doctors at the rallies to conceive illegitimate medical excuses for skipping work to protest. Ohio Democratic senators could not halt a vote by leaving the state as occurred in Wisconsin. There are enough Republican members to form a quorum and state laws do not require representative of both parties be present to conduct business.

Balancing Ohio's growing deficit while maintaining quality public services is at the center of the debate. Kasich stressed the inability of available taxpayer funds to cover current spending levels during an interview with Fox news. State lawmakers have testified during bill review hearings that if employee contributions to pension and health care funds are not increased, layoffs and unsustainable debt will likely occur. Opponents to the bill are concerned about lower salaries, while supporters feel they should not be subsidizing public employees health care and pensions while struggling to pay the same expenses for their families.

The Ohio Federation of Teachers (AFT, AFL-CIO) is encouraging members to download a form letter in opposition to the Senate Bill 5 and send it to legislators. The union's website urges Ohio educators to become involved in the fight against the bill because "there is no doubt that Governor Kasich will make changes to your pension fund." During a January board meeting, union leaders stated the proposed changes to the pension fund are too dependent upon reducing teacher benefits and increasing contribution costs.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110220/tr_ac/7901332_ohio_teachers_unions_organize_against_senate_bill5

[rfranklin]

1. "public decency line..." Whaaaat?

who wrote this sack of crap?

[Joanne98]

2. Sorry. They're the first ones reporting it.

[buckrogers1965]

3. Collective barganing is a human right.

Public decency? What about the public decency of trying to strip people of their human rights? Rights that Americans have died and suffered for decades to earn?

[femmocrat]

4. Welcome to DU, buckrogers!

:hi:

[Bozita]

5. Solidarity!