If you tuned into the Oscars last weekend you may have noticed a familiar theme running through acceptance speeches…”thank you UNION WORKERS”. Several acceptance speeches included a direct thank you or acknowledgement of union employees.
The recent budge crisis facing many states like Wisconsin and Ohio has lead to large protests in recent weeks, as Union workers protest the potential loss of collective bargaining rights. Unlike, Wisconsin, Ohio has moved much more quickly on this issue, and a final vote is expected to emerge this week.
Bill Vote
(Newsroom America) — Thousands of opponents of a bill to curtail union bargaining rights have flooded into Columbus, Ohio as state lawmakers prepare to vote on it this week.
Like their counterparts in Wisconsin, union members and their supporters are opposed to the legislation because it would sharply curb collective bargaining rights. But unlike Wisconsin, Democrats don’t have the numbers to delay a vote on any measure by fleeing the state. And, the Ohio measure would include unionized police and firefighters as well.
Opponents of the measure, backed by GOP Gov. John Kasich and most Republicans, say supporters are using the current economic crisis as an excuse to bust up public sector unions.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Tuesday, Kasich said passage of the measure is essential to ensure the fiscal health of the state.
“We’re going to move at the speed of business, not at the speed of bureaucracy,” he said, adding that Ohio’s government has become lethargic, burdensome and expensive.
“All I am fighting here is joblessness and poverty, and I am going to do everything I can to get us moving in the right direction,” he said, noting that many of Ohio’s largest cities – including Cincinnati and Cleveland – have lost nearly half of their populations and scores of employers over the past 50 years due to higher employment costs.
State officials estimated about 8,500 people had gathered in Columbus to oppose the legislation, called Senate Bill 5. It seeks to limit collective bargaining rights, block strikes and get rid of binding arbitration for some 300,000 police officers, firefighters, teachers and other state and local government workers.
Supporters said the bill could emerge from the Senate on Wednesday.
© 2010 Newsroom America.
So what do you think? Does breaking up Unions mean a win for corporate America or a solution to the budget crisis? What about teachers unions; should they be subject to losing their collective bargaining rights as well?
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