Ohio labor supporters react to ‘National Employee Freedom Week’ events by GOP

Credit: Politico

As Right to Work fights wage on across the country, a collective of Right to Work activists have joined forces against the nation’s unions resulting in labor supporters in Ohio speaking out against the campaign.

“Unfortunately these groups are using deceptive terminology under the guise of ‘education,’” says Pat Sink, Ohio’s International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18 business manager. “This is just another blatant attempt to weaken unions.”

National Employee Freedom Week is a nationwide campaign comprised of 70 anti-union groups in 41 states that took place from August 10 to August 16, 2014. The groups claim that the goal of the campaign is to educate workers on their rights to opt out of union membership.

Union leaders, however, believe otherwise.

“The more people the opposition convince to abandon unions, the easier it will be for them to promote their agenda,” says Sink. “A nationwide campaign of this scope, without opposition, will result in union losses, which makes our job that much more important.”

Sink, a veteran of Ohio’s Right to Work battle, believes that increased collaboration between Right to Work opponents will ultimately lead to the movement’s downfall.

“Unification is the key to success,” says Sink. “If we stick together we can continue to apply pressure and ensure we protect our future and keep our middle class intact.”

Opponents of the recent Ohio Right to Work effort, including the “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