Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Issue 2 Defeated in Ohio: A Picture is worth 1,000 Words!!!

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First and foremost, thank you voters.  Thank you for your support, thank you for your for your compassion, thank you for standing up to a political machine that would have Ohio's public employees be the fall guys for bumbling political policies, and the misguided belief that public servants are easy scapegoats.

As you know, Ohio has 88 counties.  This morning we can see the landslide results of Issue 2.  Only six out of eighty-eight counties supported Issue 2!!!  That means 6.8% of Ohio supported the bill... or should we say that 93.2% were against it!!!

Hopefully, we can have a dialogue now about the best way that we (as public unions) can address some of the issues which made us politically vulnerable in the first place.  A union is only as strong as its weakest link.  WE need the ability to provide the best services available, and continue to serve the public.  Finally, we will need to work with state and local government to develop fair and reasonable funding options which are not regressive to Ohio's business climate.

For many public servants, this has been a long road.  Your efforts were phenomenal!  Never before in Ohio history have unions banded together to defeat a measure that personally attacked membership, and our service to other Ohioans.

 Ballots not Bullets...  Instead of fighting war with weapons, our election process is a war of ideas and words.  Every Election Day is a war that is settled on the most elementary principles of a democracy.  The power to petition the government, and redress grievances is the most basic part of our democracy.  Thank you for your support!!!  In Ohio, it is evident that the power belongs to the people!!!  Thank You!!! 


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Corporate Boogymen... and Kasich's Desperate Last Stand!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dBNVjKtr4cI

As disturbing as it sounds... this link says it all!!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Business Against Issue 2... A Short List

Katzinger's DeliColumbus, Ohio
Nexus CommunicationsColumbus, Ohio
Patrick SolutionsColumbus, Ohio
Star Arts GalleryColumbus, Ohio
Market 65Columbus, Ohio
Cup O'JoeColumbus, Ohio
Cap City DirectColumbus, Ohio
Canton Hotel & Restaurant SupplyCanton, Ohio
JP's Bar-B-QueColumbus, Ohio
NaturepedicCleveland, Ohio
Planning Rehabilitation in Americas CommunitiesCleveland, Ohio
Mr. WonderfulsCleveland, Ohio
Madison Development ConsultingCleveland, Ohio
McTech ConstructionCleveland, Ohio
Boost MobileCleveland, Ohio
Union Eye CareCleveland, Ohio
Lutz FlowersCleveland, Ohio
Lanz PrintingColumbus, Ohio
Thompson ElectricMunroe Falls, Ohio
American Income LifeCleveland, Ohio
Little Generations DaycareToledo, Ohio
Lutz FlowersCincinnati, Ohio
Keystone Press, Inc.Toledo, Ohio
Roberts Auto RestorationToldeo, Ohio
Jacks AutomotiveOregon, Ohio
Santa Claus of Newton FallsNewton Falls, Ohio
Dayton PrinteryDayton, Ohio
Sway's Trophy HouseMarion, Ohio
Wayside Flower ShoppeNew Albany, Ohio
Mailbox and ServicesColumbus, Ohio
One Stop Shop Liquor AgencyAustintown, Ohio
Ross Eatery & PubLordstown, Ohio
U Drive Business SolutionsMason, Ohio
Milleson Insurance AgencyFreeport, Ohio
Travonna Coffee HouseColumbus, Ohio
Omega MusicDayton, Ohio
PJ McIntyre's Irish PubCleveland, Ohio
Susan's Key West CondoAthens, Ohio
Tiki Bowling LanesLancaster, Ohio
Grounds for ThoughtBowling Green, Ohio
Hang TanColumbia Station, Ohio
Big Heads Barber Shop & Beauty SalonColumbus, Ohio
A Cut Above The RestColumbus, Ohio
Man In The Mirror Barber ShopColumbus, Ohio
Flanagan's PubDayton, Ohio
Jewitt's IGAMt. Sterling, Ohio
BAsically BritishDayton, Ohio
Trolley StopDayton, Ohio
All Cards and ComicsWarren, Ohio
Our Family RestaurantYoungstown, Ohio
Nationwide InsuranceColumbia Freeport, Ohio
CPR & FIrst Aid Training of OhioNiles, Ohio
Berea Barber ShopBerea, Ohio
Creations By Lynn Florists of BereaBerea, Ohio
Family Hobby, Inc.Medina, Ohio
Mac's Backs Books - Three Floors BooksCleveland Heights, Ohio
Erie DesignColumbia Lakewood, Ohio
Clementine's Victorian RestaurantOlmsted, Ohio
Subdial Tanning SalonStrongsville, Ohio
Wildlife GardensSolon, Ohio
Gaelic ImportsParma, Ohio
On Top of The HillCleveland, Ohio
Ohio City BurritoOhio City, Ohio
Yorktown Shoe RepairParma Heights, Ohio
Heidi's AlterationsRocky River, Ohio
Copy PlusAvon Lake, Ohio
Bullseye Firearms, LLCGrafton, Ohio
Kent Natural FoodsKent, Ohio
Build A Phone (Bling it on)Columbia Canton, Ohio
ZTech Auto CareCanton, Ohio
Blacklist BooksEast Massillon, Ohio
Art Bombs TattoosMassillon, Ohio
Tiger Town Barber ShopMassillon, Ohio
Orange Blossom PressCleveland, Ohio
Kondik Advertising and PrintingBedford Heights, Ohio
EZ Screen and PrintingCincinnati, Ohio
Clear ImagesToledo, Ohio
Sizemore TruckingHolgate, Ohio
Studios SouthNapoleon, Ohio
Apolstolic Christian Center / Kids HavenNapoleon, Ohio
TAS, Inc.Toledo, Ohio
Rettig TruckingNapoleon, Ohio
Hunter ConstructionOttawa, Ohio
ZTech / Charlie's Car Care, Inc.Defiance, Ohio
N&R&G Recycling, Inc.Napoleon, Ohio
Double Dog Day CareStow, Ohio
Heaven Scent FlowerrsNew Cornerstone, Ohio
Pro-Lawn Mowing ServicesSpringsboro, Ohio
Vicars Heating and Air ConditioningLiberty Center, Ohio
Ripke Trucker's ParadiseLewis Center, Ohio
Irish Acres Lawn and LandscapingBowling Green, Ohio
AniGamesToledo, Ohio
Old House Dinstinctive Gifts & CollectiblesWaterville, Ohio
Mosaic CleaningColumbus, Ohio
Swan Creek BridalWaterville, Ohio
Madison Graphic'sLakewood, Ohio
Leatherman Masonry, LLCLiberty Center, Ohio
Wild Horse RadioGreenville, Ohio
Kustom Trim Tree Service, LLCAkron, Ohio
Waters of Life ChurchColumbus, Ohio
Paul Thomas StudiosGeneva, Ohio
Diversified Realty ServicesCanton, Ohio
CUAD Studios, LLCColumbus, Ohio
ShootersReynoldsburg, Ohio
HH & M, LLCPickerington, Ohio
Cosmos Industirals Services, Inc.Cleveland, Ohio
SocanaylicCanfield, Ohio
S J D Construction Co.Hinckley, Ohio

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

More Facts on Issue 2

MYTH:  Unions never came to the table to discuss their concerns with Senate Bill 5, now Issue 2, during the legislative debate, and when given the chance to compromise, they refused.  TRUTH:  Thousands of Ohioans were locked out of their own Ohio Statehouse during the legislative debate and were unable to testify or let their voices be heard.  We Are Ohio stood firmly with the 1.3 million Ohioans who signed petitions to repeal SB 5 and told legislative leaders they should come back to Columbus and repeal the whole bill. 
MYTH:  All of Ohio’s business community supports Issue 2.  TRUTH:   More than 700 businesses in Ohio are part of the Proud Ohio Workers program that shows support for public and private sector workers who shop in their businesses.
MYTH:   Rolling back collective bargaining rights is needed to help managers do their jobs.   TRUTH:  Ohio passed a law in 1983 to establish collective bargaining for state workers.  The 1983 law has reduced labor strife and increased professional training and productivity.
MYTH:  Issue 2 is nothing more than a reasonable set of reforms needed to bring public employee salaries and benefits more in line with their private sector counterparts.   TRUTH:  There is nothing reasonable about Issue 2.  It takes away the rights and voices of hardworking Ohioans who serve our state and local communities.  It unfairly shifts the balance of all power to management.
MYTH:  Issue 2 just asks public employees to pay their fair share for healthcare benefits and pension costs.   TRUTH:  Issue 2 fundamentally changes collective bargaining and is a flawed bill with unintended consequences.  All state employees already pay 15% of their healthcare and 10% of their pension costs.  Many workers in local communities also pay at least these levels or more.  School employees in Grove City pay 35% of their healthcare costs.
MYTH:  Issue 2 will save jobs.  TRUTH:  Issue 2 will not create one job.  Between the devastating state budget cuts to local communities and Issue 2, the state could lose 51,000 jobs.  The truth is, due to more than one billion dollars in state budget cuts, local communities will be forced to fire and layoff vital safety services like police officers and firefighters.