Ohio unions optimistic about shifting Right to Work landscape

As Ohio unions push forward following their latest victory against Right to Work supporters, many prominent union members are expressing optimism about the political landscape across the state.

Following this month’s colossal failure of the Ohioans for Workplace Freedom Election Day signature push, labor groups believe that Ohio voters are beginning to make their choice clear at the ballots.

“The longer this fight drags on, the more opportunity we have to educate the public on the dangers of Right to Work,” said Pat Sink, Ohio’s IUOE Local 18’s business manager. “I think that we’re beginning to witness the voting public speak their mind when it comes to this issue.”

On Election Day, Keep Ohio’s Heritage, the IUOE Local 18 advocacy group, organized professional signature gatherers to counteract Right to Work advocacy group, Ohioans for Workplace Freedom’s efforts to force a ballot initiative in 2014.

Monitoring several hundred polls in counties across the state with substantial Tea Party support, Keep Ohio’s Heritage handed out short, four-point flyers entitled “Think before you sign” to anyone Right to Work supporters were targeting for signatures. Due to these efforts, the labor group was able to sway roughly 75 percent of potential signees.

“We’ll continue to do everything in our power to keep Ohio informed on the true nature of Right to Work,” said Sink.

Even with this success, Ohio unions and their supporters continue to apply pressure to opponents and are gearing up for a legislative session that could be heavily focused on Right to Work measures.

Opponents of the Right to Work laws, sometimes called “Workplace Freedom” in Ohio, contend that the initiative’s true purpose is to kill unions and worker protections, leading to a weaker middle class.

Stripping workers of their rights and freedoms would allow business owners to lower worker pay, reduce worker benefits and ignore worker rights.

To keep voters well informed on the dangers of Right-to-Work Keep Ohio’s Heritage has been running ads on cable and network television designed to educate voters on the issue.

For more information on the Right to Work and “Workplace Freedom” movements, please visit the website, www.protectohiosmiddleclass.org.

SOURCE:  Keep Ohio's Heritage

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