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Union supporters rally in Dayton to oppose collective bargaining limits

The rally was outside the Dayton Convention Center as state Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, hosted a town hall meeting inside. Dawn Wojcik, a member of the board of directors for the Ohio Education Association, “We’re trying to convince Sen. Lehner to vote no on issue 5.

Staff photo by Chris Stewart The rally was outside the Dayton Convention Center as state Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, hosted a town hall meeting inside. Dawn Wojcik, a member of the board of directors for the Ohio Education Association, “We’re trying to convince Sen. Lehner to vote no on issue 5."

ENLARGE PHOTO

Today’s Dayton rally comes on the heels of demonstrations in Columbus and Wisconsin that have drawn thousands of union supporters.

Staff photo by Chris Stewart Today’s Dayton rally comes on the heels of demonstrations in Columbus and Wisconsin that have drawn thousands of union supporters.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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Senate Bill 5 would end collective bargaining for state workers and weaken bargaining rights for police officers, firefighters, teachers and other local public workers.

Staff photo by Chris Stewart Senate Bill 5 would end collective bargaining for state workers and weaken bargaining rights for police officers, firefighters, teachers and other local public workers.

By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 11:56 AM Tuesday, February 22, 2011

DAYTON — Approximately 1,000 people rallied in the rain Monday morning outside the Dayton Convention Center in opposition to a plan to limit collective bargaining rights for public employees.

Supporters of Ohio Senate Bill 5 say it will rein in public spending, and opponents say it is unfair to workers who already agreed to concessions for struggling schools and cities.

State Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, spoke at the rally against the legislation.

“This bill is an attack on democratic values,” Luckie said. “I’ve learned in life: what hurts one, hurts everyone. This hurts everyone.”

The rally was outside as state Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, hosted a town hall meeting inside for a group of about 25 teachers and union officials, who had sent her letters of concern.

Lehner said she believes collective bargaining reform is necessary given Ohio’s projected $8 billion deficit and Gov. John Kasich’s “absolute intent” to see it happen. But, she’s not sure yet what it will look like. She said chants calling for the bill to be killed are nonproductive and asked the group to offer solutions to fix the system.

“These are all my constituents. I’m interested in what they have to say,” Lehner said. “We have a shortage of money in Ohio right now. I don’t think we also should have a shortage of ideas.”

Dawn Wojcik, a member of the board of directors for the Ohio Education Association, “We’re trying to convince Sen. Lehner to vote no on issue 5.

“It’s raining on the state of Ohio. We are standing out here in the rain, and we will not be moved.”

Today’s Dayton rally comes on the heels of demonstrations in Columbus and Wisconsin that have drawn thousands of union supporters.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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