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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2011 > February > 22
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sponsor of Ohio’s 1983 collective bargaining law to speak out against proposed overhaul
Former state Sen. Gene Branstool, sponsor of Ohio’s 1983 public employee bargaining law, will headline a Wednesday press conference to oppose Senate Bill 5, legislation that would prohibit collective bargaining for state employees and restrict bargaining for teachers, police, firefighters and other local government workers.
“Just because you’re a public worker doesn’t mean you should have less rights,” Branstool, a Democrat, told the Dayton Daily News this week. The press conference is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Statehouse.
Branstool, a retired farmer from near Utica, said his experience as a member of a local school board was one of the reasons he sponsored the bill back in 1983. The local board voluntarily recognized a bargaining unit for teachers, but the need existed for a formal system, said Branstool.
Backers of Senate Bill 5 say it’s needed to even the playing field between labor and their government employers and to give the state, local governments and school boards the flexibility they need to operate in lean financial times.
The 1983 legislation, signed into law by Democratic Gov. Richard F. Celeste, passed the Senate on a party-line vote, 17-16, with all Democrats supporting it and all Republicans opposed.
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TweetCrowd angry that Statehouse access is limited
Hundreds of Ohioans inside the Statehouse are angrily shouting at Ohio Highway Patrol troopers who are limiting access to the building.
More than 4,000 protesters surged on the Statehouse on Tuesday in opposition to Senate Bill 5, which would weaken collective bargaining for public employees. While more than 1,000 were let inside the building, more are left out in the cold.
Democratic lawmakers were trying to negotiate with troopers to let more people inside. And former governor Ted Strickland, a Democrat, appeared inside the Statehouse and said the ‘People’s House’ should be opened.
The fourth hearing on the bill, which is sponsored by state Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, is scheduled for 4 p.m. before the 12-member Senate Insurance Commerce and Labor Committee.
Committee Chairman Kevin Bacon, R-Worthington, said he does not anticipate another hearing on the bill this week and it’s unclear whether or when amendments might be made to the legislation.
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TweetSenate Education Committee approves five “calamity days”
The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday gave its OK to Senate Bill 18, legislation to allow for five, not three, “calamity days” for Ohio schools in the 2010-2011 school year.
The bill now goes to the Senate floor although a vote by the full Senate is not expected until next week at the earliest.
Ohio law permits districts to cancel school for “calamity days” because of hazardous weather, outbreaks of disease or other problems.
The number of days was reduced from five to three in the budget passed under former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland who said he wanted to increase instruction time.
However, Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, sponsor of Senate Bill 18, and others said having just three days was unrealistic in light of Ohio’s winter weather. Gov. John Kasich has said he supports increasing the number to five.
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TweetOverflow seating set up for Senate Bill 5 hearing
State officials are opening the Capitol Theatre in the Riffe Center across the street from the Ohio Statehouse to accommodate up to 900 more people who may want to listen to testimony on Senate Bill 5, the collective bargaining reform measure. The theater opens at 2pm and seating in the Statehouse Atrium begins at 3pm.
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TweetFOP, Firefighters to Senate: Slow down on collective bargaining overhaul
Unions representing police, firefighters and other safety forces across Ohio on Tuesday joined forces to send a message to state Senators on Senate Bill 5, which would end collective bargaining for state employees and restrict bargaining rights for teachers and local government:
Slow down.
“If this is a good piece of legislation, it ought to be able to stand up to the light of day,” Jay McDonald, Ohio Fraternal Order of Police president, said at a Columbus press conference.
The current system, created by the 1983 collective bargaining bill, has led to labor peace and the end to strikes by police and firefighters, said Mark Sanders, Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters president.
“We certainly don’t want to go back to the days when our issues are in the street,” said Sanders.
However, Ray Warrick, president of the Mason Tea Party who last week testified in favor of the bill, said speedy action is needed.
“I’m not sure, to tell you the truth, how much longer they need to take. We’ve got to reform collective bargaining….or I’m afraid we’re not going to fix our state,” Warrick said by phone.
The press conference came as thousands of opponents of the bill planned to converge in Columbus as the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee planned a 4 p.m. hearing on the bill.
Of particular concern to police and firefighters is a provision that would end binding arbitration as the way to settle labor disputes for safety forces who are not permitted to strike.
Jon Harvey, president of the Firefighters Local 336 in Middletown, said binding arbitration has worked.
“If neither side likes it, it’s got to be somewhat fair,” Harvey said.
Supporters of the legislation say it’s needed to even the playing field between public unions and their government employers and to provide employers with flexibility needed to get through tough economic times.
Speakers at the press conference said they were part of a safety forces’ coalition, representing 37,000 workers, that includes: the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police; the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters; the Ohio Police Benevolent Association; the Ohio State Troopers Association; the Northern Ohio Firefighters; the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association and the Toledo Police Command Officers Association.
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