Ohio

Time to stand up for Ohio's middle class

Come to the Ohio Statehouse (1 Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio 43215) Tuesday, February 22, at 1 p.m. to protest the attempt to end collective bargaining in Ohio!

If ever there was a time to show up, stand up and let our voices be heard, it is now. The fate of Ohio’s middle class is on the line at the Ohio Statehouse. Your presence will send a strong message and help efforts to defeat Senate Bill 5 and the rest of the GOP’s anti-middle class agenda.

Wear your work uniform if applicable (fire fighter uniform, scrubs, etc) OR wear red. RSVP.

Can't attend on Feb. 22?

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in opposition to SB 5. Tips and contact information for your local newspaper.

Attend a phone bank to engage other activists in activities against Senate Bill 5. Find the phone bank closest to you.

Here's what you can say about Ohio Senate Bill 5

• SB 5 is a jobs killer. It will weaken the middle class in Ohio.
• Anyone who supports SB 5 is destroying jobs in Ohio and harming the middle class.
• If SB 5 passes, shops, stores, gas stations and other merchants in communities across this state will lay off workers or shutter their windows and close their doors.
• For almost 28 years, collective bargaining has: Reduced labor strife; reduced the likelihood of strikes; and improved training and productivity among public employees.
• The repeal of collective bargaining will do nothing to balance the budget because: 9 percent of the state budget is for state employees; firing every state employee in Ohio would save only $2 billion, leaving the state without vital services and there would still be an $6 billion deficit; since this does not address the budget deficit, it is clear that anti-worker forces are using this to harm the middle class and kill jobs.

Other talking points:

• Public employees provide a wide range of necessary services. They drive children to and from school safely. They patrol our streets, put out fires, provide transportation for disabled and elderly, safeguard our prisons, plow our streets, fix our busted waterlines in freezing weather.
• Our teachers, police, firefighters and other public employees are also our neighbors, friends, family members, coaches, volunteers. They are part of the fabric of our communities.
• Our prison guards, bus drivers, water and sewer workers, educators, in-home caregivers are also consumers and customers in their communities. They spend their money locally on cars, appliances, furniture, food, gas, and other items. They keep local merchants open, hiring and thriving.

THE TRUTH ABOUT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

Gov. John Kasich and his bullies are trying to paint a false picture of our hard-working police, fire fighters, civil workers and teachers. Don't you believe it. Here are the facts about dedicated public servants, as presented by the Ohio Democratic Party.

THE PAY MYTH

• On average, public employees actually earn $2,000 less than private sector peers
• On average, public employees are higher educated (48%) than private sector peers (23%)
• Higher educated private sector employees earn on average $22,966 more a year than public employees

DRAIN ON THE BUDGET MYTH

• Public employees are not responsible for the $8 billion budget deficit in Ohio
• Eliminating every state employee job in Ohio would only save $2 billion
• Budget gaps in states without collective bargaining are 16.7% higher on average than Ohio
• Anti-union forces are using public employees as scapegoats

THE SACRIFICE MYTH

• Public employees have agreed to make sacrifices
• They have taken furloughed days without pay amounting to 10% of annual salaries
• They have taken four pay freezes in 9 years
• They are contributing more to their health care plans

Kasich on all-white cabinet: No qualified candidates

John Kasich is the first Ohio governor since the 1960s to start his term by appointing an all-white cabinet. (And only five are women.) His reason? He couldn't find "qualified candidates." Sound familiar?

After an outcry, he has appointed one minority member -- Michael Colbert, who is black -- as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. But Colbert had previously been serving as interim director of the social welfare agency.

When the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus offered to help Kasich diversify his cabinet choices, he told them, "I don't need your people." His staff later said he meant Democrats, not people of color. What?

State Senator Nina Turner (D-District 25, Cleveland) recalls Kasich's rebuff (from the Jan. 31, 2011, Ed Show on MSNBC). She points out that cabinet positions call for administrative skills, not agreement with Kasich's political outlook. And surely there are qualified people of color in Ohio, or in the country, who are experienced administrators.

Kasich's stance shows "strong insensitivity," Turner noted. We'll say. After all, Kasich already has skipped a remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- and issued a proclamation honoring the civil rights leader on St. Patrick's Day.

More:

I-Publist.com, "Ohio Governor Says, 'I Don't Need Your People'"

ThinkProgress.com, "Gov. Kasich to Black Lawmaker, 'I Don't Need Your People'"

Imagine loaded guns in family restaurants and in crowded bars. Imagine loaded guns at a sold-out Ohio State football game or Cincinnati Reds baseball game.

Last week a bill allowing permit holders to carry concealed guns into bars, restaurants and sporting events that serve alcohol passed the Ohio Senate.

Check out "The Truth About John Kasich" from the Ohio Democratic Party.

Former Congressman, Fox News personality, and investment banker John Kasich is running on the Republican ticket for governor of Ohio.

During his 18 years in Congress, Kasich was an architect of the failed Washington-Wall Street trickle-down policies that got us into this economic mess. He voted to give China favored trade status and supported free trade agreements like NAFTA, both of which cost Ohio thousands of jobs.

Then he went to Wall Street and cashed in on these policies at Lehman Brothers, the firm whose collapse marked the beginning of the global economic crisis.

Now Congressman Kasich wants to bring these failed policies–and his radical agenda–to Ohio.

Join UAPA this Saturday at the State House!

Join up with AFSCME and other partners this Saturday as we call on members of the Ohio Congressional delegation to support HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act as it comes to a vote in the House of Representatives next week.

Saturday, July 25, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Ohio State House North Plaza

(Broad Street between High and Third)

Rallly Partners Include Progress Ohio, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 8, Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE), and AFSCME Retirees Chapter 1184.

For more information, contact Aryeh Alex at aalex@afsmce.org, or 513.478.5928

Ohioans call on Representatives Driehaus, Space, Boccieri and Tiberi to vote yes on HR 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act. The bill is a uniquely American solution to the health care crisis. HR 3200 includes the choice of a public health insurance plan that will compete with private insurance companies to keep them honest and lower costs.

Meet

Governor Ted Strickland

and

US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

this Friday at a rally for education reform in Ohio.

Friday, May 8th at 11:45 AM

The West Lawn of the Schottenstein Center

The Ohio State University

555 Borror Rd

Columbus, OH 43210 [directions]

Please RSV here.

Here's a summary of UAPA's position on ballot issues 1, 2, 5 and 6:

• Issue 1: Vote YES.
• Issue 2: Vote YES.
• Issue 5: Vote YES.
• Issue 6: Vote NO.

ProgressOhio has conveniently deciphered the ballot issues and summarized them in a one page document. And here's a sample ballot of endorsed Democratic candidates to print and take with you to the polls.

UAPA's positions on the ballot issues align closely with those of the editors from Ohio's largest daily newspapers:

And here's the our rationale for our positions:

The ad below is currently running on television.

Remember, the payday industry is spending over $15 million, so anything you can do to helps us spread the VOTE YES ON ISSUE 5 message counts!

Forward this video on to your friends, family and colleagues and remember to Vote Yes On Issue 5!

Watch the ad now: