Crowds descend on Columbus as Ohio debates union overhaul

[liberal N proud]

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Union groups in Ohio brandished Republican-red T-shirts on Thursday as they sought to ease partisan divisions over a GOP-backed bill that would strip public employees of collective bargaining rights.

The show of solidarity by one of many unions plugging Statehouse hallways in protest of the bill came as a similarly momentous bill stirred a furor in Wisconsin, where Democratic senators fled that state to stop the legislation's progress. It also took place on the same day tea party groups from around Ohio staged their first organized demonstration in favor of the bill.

The Ohio proposal, sponsored by Republican Sen. Shannon Jones, would abolish collective bargaining rights for state workers and restrict teachers, firefighters, police, university employees and local workers in their bargaining abilities.

Cincinnati Councilman Jeff Berding told the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee during hours of testimony Thursday that the current situation has become unworkable for cash-strapped cities.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/crowds-descend-on-columbus-as-ohio-debates-union-overhaul

Looks like Ohio GOP is following the same blueprint as Walker.



Edit to add this on buses from Cleveland:
This is from an email I just received form MoveOn
Teachers, nurses, students and firefighters have occupied the state capitol building for the past week. On Saturday, 70,000 Wisconsinites took to the streets of Madison to protest their tea party governor's radical attack on public workers.

Wisconsin has become the national rallying point in the fight that will decide whether our economy works for all Americans, or just the super-rich. Republicans are using budget deficits as an excuse to attack workers, cut funding for crucial public services, and threaten successful programs like Social Security.

With the groundswell in Madison, we have our best opportunity yet to stand up to the radical Republicans who think we can cut our way to prosperity. Dozens of progressive organizations are organizing solidarity rallies this week in cities across the country, including one tomorrow in Columbus.

Can you come out tomorrow to make clear that we'll fight back as a national movement, not just state by state? The rally is at the Capitol Building, at 1 Capitol Square, in Columbus. It starts at 1:00 PM tomorrow.

A bus will be leaving from Cleveland at 10 AM. To reserve a place on the bus and for more information contact: KameahleChristopher 410.746.7219 / [e-mail].
11 other states are considering similar bills. And in nearly every state, politicians are using budget shortfalls—caused by a Wall Street-driven recession—as a justification for cutting necessary public services.

So let's get out there tomorrow and show our solidarity. Can you join us at 1:00 PM in Columbus?

[Sonoman]

1. Oh, shit, I spent all of my money ordering pizzas from Ian's.

Oh, well, I'll come up with something....

Sonoman

[liberal N proud]

2. Wisconsin is only the beginning

This will spread.

[ejpoeta]

3. good.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Yes. :) n/t

[roxiejules]

4. Final stumbling block to creation of corporate state

http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2011/02/fig-leaf-is-finally-stripped-away.html


This crusade is inspired, funded, and directed by a handful of billionaires who are guided neither by political allegiance nor moral compass. These oligarchs, rather, see workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain as the final stumbling block to the creation of a corporate state that is unimpeded in its aspirations for social control and unrestrained greed and, thus, unchecked by either labor laws or considerations or workers' rights.

[jody]

6. Given OH’s 9.6% unemployment rate and 4 million private sector workers with 8.4% union members,

I wonder how much support those 3.7 million non-union members will give to OH’s 312 thousand members of public employee unions from a public sector force of 725 thousand.

Source http://www.unionstats.com/

[Celtic Raven]

7. Republican red?

Or Badger red to show solidarity with WI unions?

:shrug:

[fascisthunter]

8. republicans believe we should be subservient to the rich

it's no wonder they hate the idea of a government working to protect ALL americans. The wealthy lose their exclusivity.... oh boohoo.

[Orlandodem]

9. Fighting for your rights is contagious!!!