Proposed change to bargaining is topic of forum

Staff report

youngstown

Ohio Education Association affiliates representing classified staff, administrative professionals and professors at Youngstown State University are inviting all public- and private-sector unions in the Mahoning Valley to a public forum on Ohio Senate Bill 5.

The meeting, which also is open to others who are interested, is set for 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Chestnut Room of YSU’s Kilcawley Center.

“Since the introduction of this bill, my office has been deluged by requests from concerned constituents,” said state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd. “Make no mistake about it, this bill is a concerted attack on public-employee rights. Our public employees, including public-school employees and public-university employees, police, firefighters and those who staff numerous state and local agencies that serve the people every day, are dedicated workers.”

Last week, hearings began before the Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee of the Ohio Senate on Senate Bill 5, which would make changes in Ohio’s Public Employee Collective Bargaining Law. Schiavoni is the committee’s ranking Democrat.

The bill would strip state employees, including those working in public institutions of higher education, of their right to bargain collectively.

For public employees who don’t work in state government, including school-district employees, it would eliminate salary schedules and replace them with merit pay.

It would remove health care from bargaining and allow local school boards to govern health-care plans. It would allow public employers to hire permanent replacement employees during a strike.

For safety forces, who are prohibited from striking, it would eliminate binding arbitration.

Schiavoni said the bill has the potential to seriously damage working-class families in the Mahoning Valley.

“I welcome the opportunity to discuss the details of Senate Bill 5 with my constituents and talk about how we can work together to combat it,” the state senator said.