Thursday, November 10, 2011

Here We Go Again

*  Ohio's Republicans and their corporate supporters are not giving up on attacking Ohio's middle class workers.  Sure, Gov. Kasich, Shannon Jones, William Batchelder, and the rest of the Republicans lost a big one when SB 5 was repealed by 61% of Ohio's voters. Now they will try another way to punish the hardworking men and women of Ohio by using their buddies/surrogates.

Dispatch:

Although Senate Bill 5 is still smoldering after going down in flames on Tuesday, tea party activists announced their intentions today to place a constitutional amendment before voters next year that would make Ohio a right-to-work state.

The amendment, to be titled the “Workplace Freedom Amendment,” comes from individuals who crafted and placed Ohio’s health-care amendment that passed overwhelmingly through Issue 3. But Ohioans just held a referendum on public employee collective bargaining and union rules, and the state’s current system was upheld when Issue 2 was crushed 61 percent to 39 percent.....

.....“Just two days ago, Ohioans spoke with one clear and emphatic voice, and voted by an overwhelming margin to support our everyday heroes and their right to collectively bargain,” said Melissa Fazekas, spokeswoman for We Are Ohio, the labor coalition that raised more than $30 million to defeat Issue 2. “Yet, today their voices are already being ignored, even after Governor Kasich and legislative leaders have promised to listen and reflect on Tuesday’s vote....

A man listed in the article and promoter of the amendment, Bryan Williams, is a registered lobbyist for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio, and they were donors to the Building A Better Ohio.  He is a former elected official.  A similar move was tried in the 1950's when Republicans tried to push for right-to-work legislation, but it was shot down. Right-to-work states have higher work fatalities and low wages. 

Don't sign a petition entitled "Workplace Freedom Amendment" if it is presented to you.