While Ohio Governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, John Kasich, has publicly backed away from Right to Work legislation in Ohio, one state representative is pushing forward without the support of the governor in hopes of making significant headway this fall.
Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, recently announced that he intends to introduce a Right to Work bill once the General Assembly returns from its summer recess.
“Since (2011), Michigan has become a Right to Work state,” Brinkman told the Sandusky Register. “So has Wisconsin and I know there’s been activity in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.
We have neighboring states that are doing it so I feel pretty good about it.”
No matter what happens, Rick Dalton, business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18 which represents all of Ohio and several counties in Kentucky, says that unions are prepared and have the support to face this latest challenge.
“Faces and tactics may change, but the purpose behind these efforts has remained the same,” said Dalton. “We remain vigilant in our ability to educate the public so that they can understand the true meaning behind this sort of legislation.”
While Rep. Brinkman may feel optimistic of his chances, union supporters such as Matt Mayer, president of the free-market think tank Opportunity Ohio, aren’t so sure.
“Right to Work has been dead since Gov. John Kasich said he didn’t support it and encouraged donors not to help fund a ballot initiative,” Mayer said. “That’s the reality. He’s essentially shut down the process.”
Unions have steadily been fighting against Right to Work legislation in Ohio, most notably in 2011 when unions and state Democrats successfully repealed Senate Bill 5, a series of public-sector labor reforms that included Right to Work language.
“We have turned back every salvo they have taken in recent years,” said Dalton. “But that doesn’t eliminate the need to remain vigilant and ensure that future movements, including this one, do not have the opportunity to surreptitiously gain support amongst the voters in Ohio.”
Opponents of the recent Ohio Right to Work effort, including the “Workplace Freedom” bills, contend that the initiative’s true intent is to kill unions and worker protections, ultimately leading to a weaker middle class.
Whether the terms used are “Paycheck Protection,” “Workplace Freedom” or Right to Work, opponents of the effort remain dedicated to ensuring the voting public knows the truth about the GOP’s divisive agenda.
For more information on Right to Work in Ohio, visit: http://protectohiosmiddleclass.org/
SOURCE: Keep Ohio's Heritage
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