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Ohio voters reject attack on collective bargaining

By a 61 percent majority, Ohio voters resoundingly rejected legislation that would have reduced the collective bargaining power of about 360,000 public workers in the state.

The defeat of Ohio’s Issue 2 was a substantial victory for organized labor and a “major black eye for the governor” John Kasich, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Ohio’s Republican governor had made the scaling back of collective bargaining rights a signature issue in his administration, so the defeat of Issue 2 was a major setback.

BLET National President Dennis Pierce was one of many BLET members who participated in rallies to oppose the issue. He thanked those who fought the measure and voted against it.

In particular, President Pierce recognized John Tolman, BLET Vice President and National Legislative Representative, and Tim Hanely, Chairman of the Ohio State Legislative Board, for their efforts in fighting the measure. Brother Hanely went door-to-door and collected hundreds of signatures that helped to have the issue first placed on the ballot and then overturned. President Pierce also thanked State Representative Bob Hagan, a member of BLET Division 757, for his efforts in opposing the measure.

President Pierce also recognized the countless BLET members who participated in the pre-election process, worked phone banks, handed out fliers, and engaged in various get out the vote efforts with their fellow members to ensure the defeat of Issue 2.

Issue 2 would have nearly eliminated collective bargaining for government workers. It included provisions that would have banned strikes by public workers, removed binding arbitration and eliminated union negotiations over health care and other benefits.

In March, the issue passed out of committee by the smallest margin possible — one vote — but only after Governor Kasich’s political strong-arm tactics. Just before the vote, Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus (R) pulled Sen. Bill Seitz (R) off the committee that was considering the measure because Seitz had opposed a Republican amendment to the bill and the process in which the bill was being considered. Seitz was replaced with another Republican who supported the measure, clearing the way for a 7-5 vote that otherwise would have ended in a tie.

MSNBC news analyst Lawrence O””Donnell said it was “the sleaziest legislative maneuver I have ever seen. I have never seen a more corrupted legislative process.”

After the hateful, anti-union measure was passed into law through questionable political maneuvering, Ohio’s labor unions began gathering signatures for a “citizen’s veto,” giving citizens the right to veto it in a special referendum in November. A total of 231,000 signatures were needed to put the measure before voters, and thanks to the power of unionism, a parade of 6,000 citizens delivered 1.3 million signatures to the state capitol in June. That set the stage for Tuesday’s vote and sweeping victory for labor.

While labor should enjoy this hard-earned victory, President Pierce cautioned that the War on Workers is a long way from over.

“This victory is a testament to the strength of labor and the dedication of our members on the front lines in the War on Workers,” President Pierce said. “Working class Americans won this battle but the war is far from over. We are already receiving word that Ohio’s Republicans are planning to re-introduce portions of Issue 2 again next year. It will require our constant vigilance to oppose these anti-union measures.”