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Posted on 11/05/2011 8:39:11 PM PDT by Steelfish
Ohio Voters Look Set To Dump Republicans' Anti-Union Law The balloting will be closely watched in a state that could be pivotal in the 2012 presidential election.
By Paul West November 5, 2011 Reporting from Hanoverton, Ohio— An aggressive Republican drive to weaken the labor rights of government workers appears to have crested, at least in Ohio, where voters are expected to throw out a far-reaching anti-union law this week.
The referendum over collective bargaining for public employees, potentially the most important contest in off-year elections around the nation, is being closely watched for clues about shifting voter trends in a state expected to play its usual outsized role in next year's presidential contest.
Barely seven months ago, newly elected Gov. John Kasich joined other Republican governors, including Wisconsin's Scott Walker, in defying angry street demonstrations to push through a measure designed to curb the power of public-employee unions.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The west coast is like NYC and New England...not in tune with the real America. Here, a “green” car is a regular gasoline powered car with fewer than six cylinders.
Only in college towns.
“...why “must” cops be unionized?”
One big reason is that local city/county authorities, especially in the bigger city areas are liberal Democrats are the worst when it come to stepping on and screwing LEO pay/benefits.
What I am seeing out here in WA, is the unions taking over the GOP. If the unions are running into opposition from the Green Democrats, they are running their own candidate as a Republican or buying themselves an established Republican.
Last year we had two members of the Fire Fighters Union running against each other, one as a Democrat and one as a Republican. We have former heads of the teachers union running the Tea Party group and teaching the constitution course, all the while pushing the union agenda. Like I mentioned before, the former head of the WA state GOP is now a paid lobbyist for the SEIU.
What I am also seeing is that Mitt Romney was picked by the GOP establishment in this state, last year, and I think that this union strategy is part of the elect Romney plan. Someone should pin Romney down on where he stands on public sector unions.
It's much the same in MA, RI, CT and NY. In truth, there is no real Republican Party in those states. That's why the Constitution Party has a decent following in NY.
But, like I said, even the TEA Party in my local region is headed by a former head of the teachers’ union.
That's no surprise. I imagine that aside from you and a few others (military) real conservatives are a rarity up there. I grew up in MA, and all the conservatives were like my Dad...ex-military.
Maybe you’re right. I have just been so let down by it. I worked really hard to get some of these Republicans elected, only to find out that they are real RINOs.
“Here are some facts about Ohio Issue 2:
* Health insurance costs for public employees would require a 15 percent minimum contribution from public employees. The current health care premium percentage varies by agency, position and location. The typical private sector employee contribution is 30 percent.
* Public employee retirement contributions would increase to a minimum of 10 percent. Current monthly pension expenses for public workers varies as widely as health insurance costs. Some public agencies offer a smaller employee contribution as an employee raise alternative during contract negotiations. The proposed changes would require Ohio taxpayers to contribute only 14 percent to public employee pension plans.
* Performance evaluations for public school teachers mirror the educator compensation policy in the federal Race to the Top plan created by the Obama administration. Ohio schools that apply for program grant funds are mandated to follow an evidence based pay structure regardless of the fate of Issue 2.
* Ohio Issue 2 would end teacher tenure. Public school teachers who have earned the employment protection status will maintain the benefit. The years of work required to obtain tenure varies by school district and union contract terms. Ohio requires the longest span for tenure benefits to be achieved with seven years. Thirty-two states require three years to achieve tenure. District of Columbia public schools do not offer tenure protection.
* The merit pay initiative contained in Ohio Senate Bill 5 (Issue 2) would replace the current automatic salary increase system. Currently public employees are given “step” increases and longevity pay at the same percentage regardless of performance evaluations results. A link between annual performance reviews as detailed in SB5 would end automatic raises for all employees and offer raises and academic progress bonuses only to those teachers who receive positive evaluations and correct noted deficiencies from previous reviews.
* Public employee collective bargaining is not eliminated but is subject to reform measures outlined in the pending legislation. Staffing levels for public safety forces are still subject to existing state and federals laws. Binding arbitration would be eliminated. Public workers would still be able to collectively bargain for wages, work hours as well as conditions and terms of employment.
* The authority to settle contract negotiation issues would be placed in local hands. School boards and agency administrators instead of an attorney hired as a professional arbitrator would determine the affordability of a proposed contract”
http://news.yahoo.com/facts-behind-ohio-issue-2-181000070.html
I don't think so...ANY Bill that addresses the Union over-paid issues will be attacked with MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF UNION DUES to defeat it. They know that even the CHOICE of participation in Dues collection for political purposes is a threat. There is NO COMMON SENSE REASON THAT ANY PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO JOIN A UNION, period.
The talking heads are wrong about what has happened in Ohio with this law. It will give them little “clue” about shifting trends.
The law over-reached. That’s it in a nutshell.
Had it simply dealt with the rational need of the state to be involved in pay and pension discussions, then it would pass easily.
Instead, the legislature in Ohio got down in the weeds and brought in seniority regulations, worker evaluation regulations, classroom management regulations, firehouse management regulations, etc., etc. The law itself went way too far and was designed, in my opinion, to cause extreme reaction so it would be challenged.
I put that in the lap of the Rinos controlling the legislature, particularly those like Sen Niehaus who wouldn’t recognize the truth if it sent him a photo album and paid regular visits. The guy is the consummate chameleon who Ohio desperately needs to have replaced.
Kasich was not well served by his “republican” majority, and he would do well to realize that many are not friends of less spending. After all, the mess in Ohio — high taxes, over-spending, cronism — has been directed by a legislature that has in most years been Republican controlled. Need we mention REPUBLICAN Gov Taft’s pleading guilty to being part of a scheme milking the budget for crony (personal?) gain. Everybody remember the state “investing” in “coins” and those coins disappearing and no one knowing where they went?
The corruption in this state is staggering, and it goes totally unmentioned.
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