Ohio labor supporters gain valuable lesson from Missouri Right to Work fight

Missouri House of Representatives pushes forward with second anti-union bill this month
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(PR NewsChannel) / April 22, 2014 / COLUMBUS, Ohio 

Workplace Freedom OhioAs Right to Work fights continue across the nation, one prominent battleground state has continued to see the controversial legislation gain steam in the state legislature.

After approving “Paycheck Protection” legislation earlier this month, The Missouri House of Representatives is moving forward in an effort to push a sweeping Right to Work bill through to the state senate.

Due to the tenacity from Right to Work advocates, labor supporters around the country, particularly Ohio, are doubling down on their efforts.

In Ohio, union supporters have so far kept the legislature off the ballot and are working tirelessly to ensure Right to Work doesn’t gain a foothold in their state.

“Situations like Missouri demonstrate how important it is to hold your ground in this fight,” says Pat Sink, Ohio’s IUOE Local 18 business manager. “As soon as Right to Work supporters gain an inch they will push it for all it’s worth.”

Sink, a veteran of Ohio’s Right to Work battle, has long touted the need to properly educate the public in order to effectively fight the damaging legislation.

“Right to Work only succeeds when the public can be misled by rhetoric and attractive misinformation,” said Sink. “That’s why it’s so important to teach the public exactly what’s at stake, and how we can fight against it.”

In Missouri, it’s becoming evident that the voting public will be the difference makers in their state’s fight.

According to “St. Louis Public Radio,” Republican House Speaker Tim Jones has been leading a tireless lobbying effort to gain enough votes to send the latest legislation forward. Yet state Republicans fell four votes short of the 82 needed in last week’s vote.

If the bill successfully makes its way through the Missouri House, it would then move to the Senate for consideration, where earlier a “Paycheck Protection” bill is already on the way.

Both bills, if passed, would then appear on the August ballot for voter approval.

“If either of these bills make it to ballot, it will be imperative that voters know the real story behind them” said Sink. “The most important thing labor supporters can do is reach out and show voters the damaging effects this type of legislation can have.”

Opponents of the recent Ohio “Workplace Freedom” bills contend that the initiative’s true purpose is to kill unions and worker protections, ultimately leading to a weaker middle class.

By stripping workers of their rights and freedoms, business owners would be free to lower worker pay, reduce worker benefits and ignore worker rights.

Whether Republicans utilize “Paycheck Protection,” “Workplace Freedom,” or other Right to Work tactics, opponents remain dedicated to ensuring the voting public knows the underlying nature behind the GOP’s divisive agenda.

For more information about Right to Work in Ohio, please visit www.protectohiosmiddleclass.org

Direct link:  https://prnewschannel.com/2014/04/22/ohio-labor-supporters-gain-valuable-lesson-from-missouri-right-to-work-fight/

SOURCE:  Keep Ohio's Heritage


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