43
Protesters rally to oppose SB 5
YOUNGSTOWN
Union representatives, public employees and politicians rallied in downtown Youngstown in opposition to Senate Bill 5 and its impact on Ohio’s middle-class workers.
“This governor is just out of touch with our local communities, and we just want to make sure we draw attention to that,” said Anthony Caldwell, media-relations spokesman for the Service Employees International Union, who added that the press conference and other events are a means of informing the public.
The Thursday morning press conference included state Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, D-64th; state Rep. Ron Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th; and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd as well as union leaders. A group of parole officers set to speak at the conference were called away to make an arrest just before the rally started.
The Senate Bill 5 legislation would eliminate most collective-bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public workers in the state of Ohio.
T.J. Assion, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said limiting the bargaining rights of law enforcement will not do anything to fix financial concerns in the state and will only lead to more crime and create more of a financial burden for local communities.
Several local politicians agree the legislation will mean an increased burden on local communities.
Schiavoni said the decrease in funding from the state to local communities will mean an increased need for property-tax levies. He said residents already hit by difficult economic times and lack of employment will not be able to vote in favor of additional levies. The ultimate result, he said, will be a decrease in services to residents.
Gerberry said people need to understand that state funding trickles down to the county, city, education and mental health as well as other areas upon which many people depend. He said the rally’s goal is to make the public aware of the consequences of the legislation and increase opposition to it.
“I am saddened, and we will continue to fight. We will fight for every citizen being shafted by this administration,” he said.
Letson said the destruction of the legislation will only begin with the public sector. He said the effects will branch out to all employees who engage in collective bargaining.
“This is an out-and-out war on the middle class. Collective bargaining is the backbone of this country,” he said.
JoAnn Johntony of Girard, president of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, said the legislation will do nothing to balance the state budget and is meant as a means to destroy unions in Ohio. She said other states, including Pennsylvania, will soon follow suit.