5,000 union members pack Ohio statehouse to protest attack on workers

More than 5,000 people -- firefighters, teachers, small business leaders, community members and other public service workers -- filled the Statehouse in Ohio Feb. 17 and 18 to show their opposition to Senate Bill 5 and Governor Kasich’s partisan agenda to punish working families instead of working to create family-sustaining jobs in Ohio. 

Kasich's anti-worker agenda is similar to the one pushed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker that led to massive protests in that state.

Events are scheduled in both states to fight these anti-worker agendas.

The Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee began on Thursday to hear testimony from opponents of Senate Bill 5, which would eliminate collective bargaining rights and salary schedules for public workers. Tens of thousands of phone calls, emails and hand-written postcards have been delivered over the past week to senators asking them to oppose Governor Kasich's assault on working families and vote against Senate Bill 5. Workers and community members plan to continue the outreach in the coming weeks across the state to get out the word about Kasich's anti-worker agenda.

Active and retired UAW members are not fooled by Governor Kasich’s argument that SB5 is needed to fix Ohio’s woes. After all, just 9 percent of the state budget is for state workers. Firing every one of them would save $2 billion, leaving the state without vital services and a $6 billion deficit.
What’s really happening is anti-worker forces are at work here. They intend to harm the middle class and kill jobs. That’s why active and retired UAW members will be gathering at the Statehouse in Columbus on Tuesday, Feb.22 to demonstrate against this legislation that will destroy the Buckeye State’s middle class. Details on this mobilization will soon be posted on uaw.org, the Gimme5 website and will also be available through your local union leadership.

Plan to be there!