Just like the Democrats refused to offer any amendments at all during the legislative process, the We Are Ohio campaign today refused to discuss any type of public employee union reform without full repeal of the bill.
If Gov. John Kasich and Republican leaders want to discuss a compromise on Senate Bill 5, they must first initiate a “fresh start” that begins with a full repeal of the anti-collective bargaining bill.
Their letter to the Governor can be viewed here, again courtesy of Ohio Capital Blog.
It’s clear that the unions have no interest in changing anything from the current status quo.
Double-dipping? OK.
How about contributing a little more to their health care and retirements, (but still not anywhere near the levels of their private sector neighbors)? No way!
Keeping it nearly impossible to fire bad employees? More please!
Banking up unused “sick” pay? Keep it coming!
What about reforming tenure and seniority rules so that good, young teachers aren’t the first ones to get laid off when the voters say no to more money? FORGET IT!
From the very beginning of this debate, we’ve reminded you that public employees in Ohio are given a privileged status over the rest of us. And it costs us big time. They will do anything to protect their special status, and will not give an inch.
In other news, the AFL-CIO says they were never part of any negotiations to compromise on the bill.
 |
| Photo courtesy AP |
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga says the union “has never entered into any series of meetings or negotiations on Senate Bill 5,” the controversial collective bargaining law.
Burga issued a statement in response to a Columbus Dispatch article that named him as a union leader who in June participated with representatives of Gov. John Kasich in discussions to negotiate a compromise that would end union-led efforts to repeal the law this fall.
Burga called that report “erroneous.”
Surrrrre you didn’t. Sounds like someone protecting themselves from backlash from their own membership to me. (Anyone who would stand on a stage with ACORN surely is of the utmost in integrity, no?)
As I predicted yesterday, we are still headed for a vote. It would be silly to repeal the bill without any concessions from labor.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols compared the We Are Ohio position to wanting an award check prior to buying a lottery ticket.
Indeed.
