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Departments Ohio Ohio Fight Back Drive announces at Town Hall meeting 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. “We will deal a setback to the wealthy elitists who’ve taken over our state,” Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga told the crowd. “We’ve been given a tremendous opportunity to educate the public on the fact that unions created the middle class, public education and eight hour day, child labor laws and a decent living standard for working living. It will be a tough, difficult fight,” Burga shouted, “but it’s a fight that, with our friends and allies, we WILL win!” Burga announced the formation of the a wide new coalition, of labor, faith, community, women, youth and African American organizations, “We Are Ohio,” that will begin immediately to take out referendum petitions to put SB 5 on the November ballot and work to defeat the bill! The town hall meeting, one of many being organized by Democrats opposed to SB 5, was sponsored by five central Ohio legislators; Michael Stinziano, Tracy Heard, Carlton Weddington, Nancy Garland & Ted Celeste. These reps are also part of a newly formed Progressive Caucus in the Ohio legislature. “There was another Celeste present 28 years ago when the collective bargaining bill was signed,” rep Celeste told the crowd. “That was Governor Celeste, and it makes me that much more proud to state that I voted NO on this backward attack on Ohio’s working families!” ` Nancy Garland spoke of the “total disrespect” showed by Republicans to working families by this bill. “They talk about jobs, jobs, but since the GOP took over not a single job has been created. The top 1% now have more wealth in Ohio than the bottom 78%, but they’ve passed five new anti-abortion bills, a bill restricting the right to vote, sent back the funds that would’ve created a rail system and thousands of new, good jobs and now this abomination,” she said. Rep Weddington spoke of the GOP’s fascination with guns. “They now want to make it legal to carry guns into bars,” he said. “The only jobs that will create are for undertakers!” The packed crowd all had ‘Kill 5’ stickers on. There was a nearly unanimous response to the call from the stage to sign up for Action Teams to work to repeal the bill. Rep. Tracy Heard, a former UAW member, spoke of the “disgusting, cowardly behavior of the Republicans.” “SB 5 hurts widows, wiping out survivor benefits. It hurts community safety and kills funds for poor folks and communities. It is an attack on all not in the top 1%,” she said. “This jerk, Gonzalez, (GOP rep) actually told the workers to ‘quit whining and get a job! Then comes over and wants to talk with me about my new shoes. That’s an insult! I told them that ‘there’s no girl-talk’ here, when you hurt all the people I know and represent,” stated Heard! We Are Ohio expects to have petitions out and in the hands of the public by the end of April. A series of events were announced for April 4, in commemoration of ML King’s birthday, and supporting the drive against SB 5. |
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Video by Occupy the Oval Building on Defeating Issue 2 Columbus Coalition for Responsive Government to file initiative petition to revise Columbus City Charter Hangin' with Glenn Beck so you don't have to: More Ohio Right to Life escapades Study touts Social Security successes Animal killing in Ohio highights need for regulations! Created Equal: Condom course is an outrage to Ohio taxpayers! Occupy Columbus Update Draconian Issue 3 would harm every Ohioan because of its intended and unintended consequences The death of Jerry Doyle Consider Columbus Occupied Concerned citizens and faculty ask state to investigate mismanagement of Wilberforce University Ohioans say no to voter suppression Ohio State University becoming less public? Trumka helps launch Ohio repeal campaign Just ban them! (at least in Columbus) AFL-CIO leaders Trumpka, Burga to kick off campaign to win poll fight on SB 5 Indie journalists arrested in Greenfield last year return for accountability: Felony wiretapping among charges levied Letter to the Editor - Heartbeat bill must not be passed MILLION OHIOANS SAY NO TO ANTI-LABOR BILL! Push for a million Ohioans against SB5 Whirlpool steals workers' guaranteed health care Tax breaks for ‘Big Shots’ will cost middle class Ohioans, says lawmaker: State Rep. Sykes requests cost-impact analysis of Kasich’s new tax give-away Columbus City officials hypocritical about public access TV The Ohio Estate Tax should not be repealed Correction to the lead Columbus Dispatch editorial Sunday May 15, 2011 May 5 Statehouse rally stands up to Kasich's budget Summary of Governor Kasich’s damaging efforts SB5 Petition Events Saturday April 23 Women in Central Ohio who had a Gynecologic biopsy at OSUMC need to send their biopsies to an outside Gyn Pathology expert Demand that Ohio investigate torture allegations Central Ohio fights back against Senate Bill 5 Ohio GOP sends a stealth death notice to public college teachers unions Ohio Fight Back Drive announces at Town Hall meeting Republicans pass anti-worker bill: Labor coalition build fight for justice! Photos from SB5 protest at Kasich's house in Westervile Workers present their “State of the State” at huge protest Corporate union busters draw first blood in Ohio Huge labor rally at the Ohio Statehouse Rev. Jesse Jackson in Columbus Little Egypt at the Statehouse Ohio workers flood capital--Demand defeat of anti-labor bill! Will Ohio's Auditor David Yost uncover the No Child Left Behind scam? Kasich, Kasich, you can’t hide – we know you’re with the rich inside On the OSU medical clinic article Ohio State's medical industrial complex under fire for unnecessary surgeries Read Ohio Articles by Year: |
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