Credit: Politico
Despite a year highlighted by labor victories across the nation, union supporters in Ohio are taking note of the growing number of Right to Work legal developments across the country.
In neighboring Michigan, the State Supreme Court is set to decide in early 2015 whether the state’s controversial Right to Work law can be applied to unionized civil service employees.
Michigan civil service unions anxiously wait for a decision as they argue that the law doesn’t apply to them because of the freedom of the state’s civil service sector is part of the state constitution.
Realizing the nationwide impact Michigan holds, many union supporters in Ohio are speaking out ahead of the January hearing.
“It’s very important we do what we can to ensure Right to Work doesn’t gain any additional momentum,” said Pat Sink, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18’s business manager. “With the recent decision in Indiana emboldening the movement, we have to make sure we can stop it in its tracks.”
Earlier this month, the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state’s Right to Work law, despite a previous ruling that found the law violated the state constitution.
Following the ruling, union leaders in the state vowed to keep fighting the issue.
As these developments bring the Right to Work fight back to the forefront, Ohio labor groups are doing their part to combat the divisive agenda.
“We’ve known from the beginning that this would be a battle we couldn’t afford to lose,” said Sink. “We’re going to keep showing Ohioans the dangers of Right to Work and we’re going to keep pressing back against any progress it makes.”
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
SOURCE: Keep Ohio's Heritage
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