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Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sen. Jones offers omnibus amendment to collective bargaining bill
While thousands of protesters outside the Statehouse denounced the bill, Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp., on Tuesday introduced an omnibus amendment to Senate Bill 5, legislation restricting collective bargaining rights for public employees across the state. Supporters say it could save the state more than $1 billion.
The amendment reflects changes announced last week by Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, according to a press release.
It would restore limited collective bargaining rights for state employees - wages only - , prohibit strikes for all public employees and establish a procedure for resolving contract disputes, the release said.
“We’ve heard from more than 100 witnesses during more than 22 hours of witness testimony on this bill,” Jones said in the release.
“These amendments address many of the concerns shared both during the committee process and through our discussions with key stakeholders.
“We’re staying focused on reducing the cost of government and making Ohio competitive, and the first place to start is with our own budgets.
“This bill gives power back to the taxpayer and restores flexibility to the management of their hard-earned dollars. I look forward to passing these critical reforms so we can get Ohio back on a path of fiscal stability, economic growth and job creation.”
Jones made the presentation at the meeting of the Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee which could vote the bill out Wednesday and send it to the full Senate for a Thursday vote.
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TweetUPDATED: Dayton sewer worker fires up protesters - 8,500 protest against SB 5 in Columbus - biggest turnout so far
Thousands of protesters waved signs and chanted “kill the bill” on Tuesday outside the Statehouse in the biggest turnout so far against Senate Bill 5. The legislation would restrict collective bargaining rights for public employees across the state, but supporters say it could save the state more than $1 billion.
Dayton sewer worker Leo Geiger fired up the crowd by denouncing the bill as “political payback,” which supporters have denied. If lawmakers and Gov. John Kasich don’t do all in their power to kill the bill, “we will do everything in our power” to end their power, Geiger said.
“These people, they have to listen to us,” said Geiger, a member of AFSCME Local 101.
Greg Dodd, spokesman for the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, estimated the crowd inside and outside the Statehouse at 8,500 by 12:45 p.m. after an earlier estimate of 7,500.
He said the crowd size could grow as protests continue throughout the day. The Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee held a hearing on the bill at 1 p.m.
Crowd estimates for earlier demonstrations against the bill were 5,200 and 3,000, said Dodd.
Supporters of the bill have pointed to a new analysis by the state Office of Collective Bargaining that said state and local governments would have saved an estimated $1.3 billion in 2010 on health insurance and automatic pay increases if the limits imposed by Senate Bill 5 were in effect.
“Kill the bill, kill the bill,” demonstrators, who were peaceful, chanted Tuesday.
Among them was Rudy Fichtenbaum, a professor of economics at Wright State University, whose protest coincided with the celebration of his 57th birthday.
“I think it’s a fundamental human right to be able to collectively bargain,” Fichtenbaum said.
Kendra Covington, a firefighter from Sugarcreek Township in Greene County, said it’s important to her to keep binding arbitration to settle labor disputes for safety forces.
“I don’t like the idea of getting rid of collective bargaining,” she said.
Jeff Mims of Dayton, now a member of the state board of education, said he had been on both sides of negotiations as a union president and local school board president. Collective bargaining has worked, said Mims.
It allows all voices to be heard, he said.
Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp., sponsor of the bill, has said it is needed to give local governments the flexibility they need to make it through tough financial times.
A vote by the full Senate is expected later this week.
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TweetOhio Catholic bishops oppose elimination of collective bargaining
As opponents and supporters of a plan to restrict public employee collective bargaining on Tuesday geared up for another day of protests and debate, the Catholic bishops of Ohio have entered the fray with a statement in support of the process.
“The Catholic bishops of Ohio encourage leaders in government, labor and business to pursue changes that promote the common good without the elimination of collective bargaining,” said a Monday statement from the Catholic Conference of Ohio.
“We urge continued good faith in ongoing negotiations. Civility, open communication, mutual cooperation and peaceful witness should characterize legislative actions and public discourse.”
Meanwhile, a new New York Times/CBS New poll found that 60 percent of American adults oppose taking away some collective bargaining rights of public employee unions, while 33 percent favor this.
The poll also found that 56 percent of adults oppose cutting pay or benefits of public employees to reduce state budget deficits, while 37 percent favor this methods.
The telephone poll was taken Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 27 with 984 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
The Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee Tuesday is to hold another hearing on Senate Bill 5, which limits public employee collective bargaining, while opponents of the bill planned to demonstrate outside the Statehouse.
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