House speaker defends collective bargaining bill
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s House speaker is defending a collective bargaining bill that drastically curbs collective bargaining rights for public workers ahead of a House vote on the proposal.
Republican William Batchelder says the state’s 27-year-old bargaining law has created expensive union contracts for local governments and schools. He says they cannot afford to pay what they have in the past and that the bill would allow them to control budgets.
The legislation would apply to public workers across the state, such as police officers, firefighters, teachers and state employees. They could negotiate wages and certain work conditions but not health care or pension benefits.
Unions and opponents argue the bill unfairly attacks the middle class.
House Republicans on Wednesday launched a website they say will help address falsehoods about the bill.