Republican union-busting advances in Ohio

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Republican attempts to push labor unions out of the government sector in several US states advanced Wednesday when Ohio's state senate passed a bill that would strip public workers of collective bargaining rights.

Unions are the biggest sources of financial and grass roots, get-out-the-vote organizational support for Democrats and have long been a target of business-backed Republicans.

President Barack Obama on Monday criticized the moves by his Republican foes to bust public sector unions and slash wages and benefits "while the wealthiest among us get to keep or get more tax breaks."

He also chided Republican leaders who have called public workers "greedy" and blamed them for budget shortfalls.

"I don't think it does anybody any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon," Obama told the National Governor's Association.

The Republican attempts to bust public unions face strong public opposition even though they are being implemented under the guise of necessary cuts in the face of steep deficits.

Ohio's bill to strip public workers of most bargaining rights -- which faced stiff opposition from Democrats and unions -- was passed by a narrow 17-16 vote Wednesday after five Republican senators jointed Democrats in opposition.

It is expected to pass in Ohio's Republican-dominated state house and be signed into law by Republican Governor John Kasich.

"This bill gives power back to the taxpayers and restores flexibility in the management of their hard-earned dollars," said bill sponsor Senator Sharon Jones.

Republican Governor Mitch Daniels -- who eliminated collective bargaining rights for state employees unions in 2005 -- has said he does not believe this is the "right time" to make Indiana a so-called 'right to work' state.

Unions have seen their power and membership rolls shrink as the manufacturing sector declined and shifted to anti-union southern states, and now represent just 12 percent of US workers.

Public workers account for more than half of union rolls, even though a dozen states prohibit state employees from forming unions.

Some 22 states have also undermined unions with so-called "right-to-work" legislation which ban labor contracts that require all employees to join and pay union dues.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.4103fec93a330f1c195d92e86c2ce8c3.f81&show_article=1

[luckytxn 2,264]

Kinda hard to believe that the Union is getting their balls so kicked in lately.