Central Ohio fights back against Senate Bill 5
Several events over the past week proved that all elements of the central Ohio community are joining together to advocate against SB5. On Monday, the King Arts Complex hosted a Jobs with Justice event to address the attacks on public workers and to commemorate the date Dr. King was assassinated. Tuesday April 5 found another Statehouse rally to call attention to the un-family friendly legislation by the Republican legislatore. On April 9 at the Ohio Statehouse, people representing a variety of labor unions and public workplaces gathered by the thousands to call for a referendum against SB5.
Manning Marable and me
Manning Marable was a legendary freedom fighter, public intellectual, and Democratic Socialist activist. He followed in the tradition of Eugene Debs, Norman Thomas, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Michael Harrington. His passing leaves a great void in the Left community.
I first met Manning Marable in 1980, four years after he had received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He was then teaching at Cornell University. I was a member of a small Democratic Socialist caucus in the Michigan Democratic Party headed by the irrepressible Zolton Ferency.
I met Manning when he a Zoltan did a program together at Wayne State University when I was working on my Master’s degree. Marable suggested that I work with the New America Movement (NAM) people, which he was a part of, and advocated that we reunite the Left by joining the NAM with Harrington’s Democratic Socialists Organizing Committee (DSOC) and our Michigan caucus.
I first met Manning Marable in 1980, four years after he had received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He was then teaching at Cornell University. I was a member of a small Democratic Socialist caucus in the Michigan Democratic Party headed by the irrepressible Zolton Ferency.
I met Manning when he a Zoltan did a program together at Wayne State University when I was working on my Master’s degree. Marable suggested that I work with the New America Movement (NAM) people, which he was a part of, and advocated that we reunite the Left by joining the NAM with Harrington’s Democratic Socialists Organizing Committee (DSOC) and our Michigan caucus.
Ohio GOP sends a stealth death notice to public college teachers unions
An obscure clause that was slipped into Ohio's infamous anti-union Senate Bill 5 may spell the end of collective bargaining for the state's public college teachers.
SB-5 was passed in the face of bitter controversy and mass public demonstrations at the state capitol in Columbus. It was signed into law Thursday, March 31, by Ohio's new extreme right-wing Governor John Kasich.
But little attention has been paid to the following clause on page 272, which reads:
“With respect to members of a faculty of a state institution of higher education, any faculty who, individually or through a faculty senate or like organization, participate in the governance of the institution, are involved in personnel decisions, selection or review of administrators, planning and use of physical resources, budget preparation, and determination of educational policies related to admissions, curriculum, subject matter, and methods of instruction and research are management level employees.”
Photograph by Bob Studzinski
SB-5 was passed in the face of bitter controversy and mass public demonstrations at the state capitol in Columbus. It was signed into law Thursday, March 31, by Ohio's new extreme right-wing Governor John Kasich.
But little attention has been paid to the following clause on page 272, which reads:
“With respect to members of a faculty of a state institution of higher education, any faculty who, individually or through a faculty senate or like organization, participate in the governance of the institution, are involved in personnel decisions, selection or review of administrators, planning and use of physical resources, budget preparation, and determination of educational policies related to admissions, curriculum, subject matter, and methods of instruction and research are management level employees.”
Photograph by Bob Studzinski
Ohio Fight Back Drive announces at Town Hall meeting
On the same day that Ohio Governor Kasich signed the vicious anti-labor bill, SB 5, Ohio’s labor movement announced the formation of a huge coalition to put that legislation on the ballot in November, and defeat it! While Kasich was preparing to sign SB 5, a massive crowd of angry workers took over the legislative rooms, shutting those chambers down for business.
For over an hour, chants of “Kill the Bill,” “This is what Democracy looks like,” & “Kasich—Get Out” echoed thru the legislative chambers.
Signing of the bill, if anything, has increased the anger and militancy of unionists in the state. Instead of pessimism, labor and allies were holding mass meeting across the state, calling for the bill’s defeat. A rousing town hall meeting at the IBEW hall, legislators and labor called for a fightback against SB 5.
Signing of the bill, if anything, has increased the anger and militancy of unionists in the state. Instead of pessimism, labor and allies were holding mass meeting across the state, calling for the bill’s defeat. A rousing town hall meeting at the IBEW hall, legislators and labor called for a fightback against SB 5.
Unions and the ballot under attack in Ohio
Photos by Bob Studzinski
Jim Gilbert, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge 9, claims that the Republican Party's passing of Senate Bill 5 "has woken a sleeping giant." By a vote of 53-44, the Republican-dominated Ohio Assembly passed Senate Bill 5 on Wednesday, March 30 –- to drastically limit collective bargaining for 360,000 public union workers. The new law requires that no salary increases can be based on seniority, only on performance.
The Senate approved the final version by one vote – 17 to 16. Republican representative Louis Blessing told workers "Be glad you have a job."
Governor John Kasich signed the bill into law Thursday March 31. His press release stated "There is a reason that the union bosses opposed these changes; because it strips power from the union leaders and returns it to the taxpayers and workers."
A better case can be made that Kasich has long plotted with wealthy corporate backers to destroy the base of the modern Democratic Party – the unions.
Jim Gilbert, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge 9, claims that the Republican Party's passing of Senate Bill 5 "has woken a sleeping giant." By a vote of 53-44, the Republican-dominated Ohio Assembly passed Senate Bill 5 on Wednesday, March 30 –- to drastically limit collective bargaining for 360,000 public union workers. The new law requires that no salary increases can be based on seniority, only on performance.
The Senate approved the final version by one vote – 17 to 16. Republican representative Louis Blessing told workers "Be glad you have a job."
Governor John Kasich signed the bill into law Thursday March 31. His press release stated "There is a reason that the union bosses opposed these changes; because it strips power from the union leaders and returns it to the taxpayers and workers."
A better case can be made that Kasich has long plotted with wealthy corporate backers to destroy the base of the modern Democratic Party – the unions.
Republicans pass anti-worker bill: Labor coalition build fight for justice!
The situation is very fluid, shifting daily, but House Republicans had the votes to pass the vicious anti-worker bill SB 5 today. Organized labor, meanwhile, has built a massive coalition of community, religious, academic, retiree and allied groups to oppose the legislation and has already announced its intention to immediately mount a campaign to put the bill on the November ballot as a referendum.
While we won’t really know the total damage that SB 5 will do until we can see the entire bill, with amendments, we do know that it is a massive corporate attack on the right of public workers to bargain collectively. Among other things, SB 5 would;
• End the right of public workers to bargain collectively over most issues, including health care, safety and pensions.
• Outlaws strikes by public workers.
• Imposes “merit pay” on public workers, meaning bosses can pay those they choose more, while paying others that don’t “suck up” less!
• Sets up a “right to work” (for less) situation for public workers in Ohio, ending closed shops, and thus, the power of workers to bargain effectively.
While we won’t really know the total damage that SB 5 will do until we can see the entire bill, with amendments, we do know that it is a massive corporate attack on the right of public workers to bargain collectively. Among other things, SB 5 would;
• End the right of public workers to bargain collectively over most issues, including health care, safety and pensions.
• Outlaws strikes by public workers.
• Imposes “merit pay” on public workers, meaning bosses can pay those they choose more, while paying others that don’t “suck up” less!
• Sets up a “right to work” (for less) situation for public workers in Ohio, ending closed shops, and thus, the power of workers to bargain effectively.
Ohio Republicans pass new Jim Crow bill disenfranchising 900,000 voters
While Ohio public employees' rights to bargain collectively are under siege, the Ohio Republican Party executed a perfect sleight of hand by disenfranchising nearly 900,000 Ohio voters. In the most vicious and direct attack on voting rights since Bull Connor ran amok in the deep South, Ohio House Republicans passed HB 159 that requires Ohio voters to produce one of four state photo IDs at the polls.
The only IDs that will be accepted in Ohio if this bill passes the overwhelming Republican State Senate are a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID, an Ohio driver's license, or an Ohio state ID. This is the most restrictive standard in the nation.
The Republican Party's target is obvious. Studies indicate that 25% of African Americans nationwide do not have a government-issued photo ID, 18% of voters over age 65 do not have a photo ID, and 15% of voters with incomes under $35,000 lack the ID as well. Besides going after blacks, the elderly and the poor, the bill also sets its sights on college students. What do these people have in common? They tend to vote Democratic.
The only IDs that will be accepted in Ohio if this bill passes the overwhelming Republican State Senate are a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID, an Ohio driver's license, or an Ohio state ID. This is the most restrictive standard in the nation.
The Republican Party's target is obvious. Studies indicate that 25% of African Americans nationwide do not have a government-issued photo ID, 18% of voters over age 65 do not have a photo ID, and 15% of voters with incomes under $35,000 lack the ID as well. Besides going after blacks, the elderly and the poor, the bill also sets its sights on college students. What do these people have in common? They tend to vote Democratic.
Photos from SB5 protest at Kasich's house in Westervile
Here are some photos of SB5 protestors at Kasich's house on Tuesday, March 15.
Workers present their “State of the State” at huge protest
Last Tuesday, 3/8, was touted as Gov. Kasich’s State of the State address, compete was huge speakers outside the statehouse to broadcast his speech to a huge expected crowd.
This day, however, belonged to the workers!
The walls of the statehouse literally shook, as thousands of workers, in hard hats & gear, marched to the capital grounds following a delegation of bagpipes and drums. They were there protesting the attempt by Gov. Kasich and Republicans to take bargaining rights aways from public workers in Ohio. Chants of “Kill the Bill,” & “We Are What Democracy Looks Like,” swept the crowd. Union flags and banners, many dating from the founding of the locals, spotted the entire march.
Diana Jackson, who formerly worked for the soon to be privatized Ohio Development Commission, said that she had “no idea how strong we are, together.”
“I just cannot believe that the people of Ohio will sit ultimately let this happen. We’ve worked too long and too hard to develop decent living standards for our people. This guy just wants to give it all away to billionaires!”
This day, however, belonged to the workers!
The walls of the statehouse literally shook, as thousands of workers, in hard hats & gear, marched to the capital grounds following a delegation of bagpipes and drums. They were there protesting the attempt by Gov. Kasich and Republicans to take bargaining rights aways from public workers in Ohio. Chants of “Kill the Bill,” & “We Are What Democracy Looks Like,” swept the crowd. Union flags and banners, many dating from the founding of the locals, spotted the entire march.
Diana Jackson, who formerly worked for the soon to be privatized Ohio Development Commission, said that she had “no idea how strong we are, together.”
“I just cannot believe that the people of Ohio will sit ultimately let this happen. We’ve worked too long and too hard to develop decent living standards for our people. This guy just wants to give it all away to billionaires!”
Corporate union busters draw first blood in Ohio
The national corporate campaign to destroy America's public sector unions has drawn first blood in Ohio.
But a counter-attack centered on one or more statewide initiatives or constitutional amendments has become highly likely.
While thousands of protestors chanted, spoke and sang inside and outside the statehouse for the past two weeks (SB 5 Rally), the Ohio Senate voted 17-16 on Senate Bill 5, a bill that will slash collective bargaining for state workers by banning strikes and giving local officials the right to settle disputes. The bill, among other things, also eliminates all paid sick days from teachers.
The vote came amid shouts of "shame on you" and widespread booing from the diverse crowd of teachers, police, firefighters, construction workers, state employees and more.
Photograph by Bob Studzinski
But a counter-attack centered on one or more statewide initiatives or constitutional amendments has become highly likely.
While thousands of protestors chanted, spoke and sang inside and outside the statehouse for the past two weeks (SB 5 Rally), the Ohio Senate voted 17-16 on Senate Bill 5, a bill that will slash collective bargaining for state workers by banning strikes and giving local officials the right to settle disputes. The bill, among other things, also eliminates all paid sick days from teachers.
The vote came amid shouts of "shame on you" and widespread booing from the diverse crowd of teachers, police, firefighters, construction workers, state employees and more.
Photograph by Bob Studzinski