AFT Ohio News Update – In Unity

Posted by Steve on November 9th, 2011 with Comments Off

Last night, the citizens of Ohio took back their state with a historic vote to repeal Senate Bill 5. The vote, which marks the first time that the collective bargaining rights of public employees have been upheld on a statewide ballot, sends aclear signal that Ohioans will not sit idly by while politicians scapegoat hard-working public employees for an economic crisis they did not create.

The repeal of Senate Bill 5 was a victory ?for every teacher who helps a struggling child, every firefighter who races into a burning building, every snowplow operator who ensures safe travel for others, and every community that relies on these vital public services. Ohioans said loud and clear that they would not turn their backs on the people who watch theirs. ?The historic citizens’ veto was a victory ?for all Ohioans, and for all Americans who ?care about democracy and fair play.

The election victory is the result of an incredible grass-roots campaign that engaged citizens from all corners of the state. More than 10,000 volunteers collected 1.3 million signatures to place Issue 2 on the ballot, and then worked tirelessly to make sure their families, friends and neighbors understood what was at stake.

I thank everyone who played a part in the Ohio victory—from those who braved the freezing temperatures to protest Senate Bill 5 at the state Capitol, to the thousands of volunteers who gathered signatures to place the issue on the ballot, to the thousands more who worked tirelessly to defeat it.

But we must keep in mind that the same politicians who supported Senate Bill 5 also passed a state budget that cut vital funding for local communities and classrooms by more than $3.5 billion. There is still much work to be done.

Today, we celebrate a great victory for Ohio. Tomorrow, we get back to work toward the next victory.

In unity,

Randi Weingarten
AFT President

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