Regional chamber suspends electronic voting in response to labor protest

Youngstown

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has temporarily suspended electronic voting among its members in response to the recent outcry from labor over it's support of Senate Bill 5.

In an email late Wednesday night, Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, the chamber’s board chairwoman, said the chamber is proud of its past relationship with labor.

“We regret that the recent action has caused a divide between the Chamber and labor,” she wrote. “Going forward, the Chamber board today agreed to temporarily suspend electronic voting, which was used in the past.

"The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council will revamp voting procedures to enhance the opportunity for broader discussion on particular issues.”

The move came after more than 400 people protested today outside the chamber’s headquarters downtown.

The bill curtails some collective-bargaining rights of public employees, and was approved 53-44 in the Ohio House and 16-15 tonight in the Senate.

A number of attendees at today's protest said they planned to start petitioning for a referendum against SB 5 to appear on the November ballot.

“I’ll keep fighting until the day I’m dead. That bill is the most disgusting piece of reading I’ve ever looked at, and I’ve read some of the grizzliest police reports,” said T.J. Assion, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 141 for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department. Assion also spoke at the rally.

Kevin Miller, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 573 in Warren, said he has signed up to petition for signatures and plans to attend every rally against SB 5.

“I think it’s a slap in the face to every union person in this town,” Miller said of the chamber’s endorsement of the bill.

Joe O’Grady, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 34 for the Warren Police Department, expressed disappointment in the chamber board members, many of whom he said are personal friends.

However, Mark Munroe, chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Party, issued a statement in support of the chamber and SB 5.

“Tom Humphries and the Chamber of Commerce showed great courage in standing up for taxpayers instead of bending to the selfish interests of local Democrats and public-sector unions,” Munroe said.

For the full story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.