Will Big Labor’s Bucks Kill Kasich's Reforms in Ohio? - HUMAN EVENTS

Will Big Labor’s Bucks Kill Kasich's Reforms in Ohio? - HUMAN EVENTS

Those who are opposed to, and voting "no" on, Ohio Issue #2 are misguided and disingenupus.

Issue #2, if defeated, will overturn the legislation that includes such items as: elimination of binding arbitration for state government employees, a requirement that government employees pay 15% of the premiums for their health insurance, and ending the right of state employees to strike.

Those opposed to the issue claim it prevents firefighters, police and teachers, from negotiating for enough people in those jobs to do the needful. Many TV ads are telling of an impending shortage of police and fireman and teachers if issue #2 passes. It actually does not do that.

Right now the legislation makes it illegal to use binding arbitration to close negotiating for union pay and benefits. Such binding arbitration is nearly always arbitered by someone from outisde the state, and nearly always sides with the union. This is why the unions support a "no" vote on it. Unions stand to lose the following if the issue spasses:

1. members will be required to pay for 15% of their healthcare premiums, up from 9%
2. binding arbitration will be off the table when negotiating contracts
3. members lose the right to strike

Nowhere does the current legislation take away jobs. In fact, it will save jobs by not forcing municiple and county governments into unsustainable contracts.

For decades the unions have negotiated for high pensions and benefits in lieu of lower slaries for puiblic sector workers. During all those negotiations, both union and government negotiators knew the plans were unsustainable in the long run. Each new generation brought that eventually closer. It is upon us now.

Too many public sector workers are receiving pensions which have never been fully funded, and unions bosses amnd politicians knew it. It is time to pay up and shut up.

If Issue #2 is defeated, many public sector workers will lose their jobs becasue the state will simply not be able to afford keeping them.

I encourage my Ohio voter friends to vote YES on Issue #2.