Why the repeal of Senate Bill 5 will be on the November ballot.

This past Saturday I went out with the last member of my family who had not signed the petition to place the repeal of Senate Bill 5 on the November ballot. The weather was rather hot and I am sure the people collecting signatures were not exactly comfortable sitting in a tent on a hot sidewalk. The reason why we (i.e., public sector union members) have collected three times the amount of signatures for getting the repeal of Senate Bill 5 on the ballot is because of people like these who have worked tirelessly.

Public sector employees are not lazy, they are not selfish, and they are not to blame for Ohio’s economic problems. The Governor decided to wage a war on the middle class and our energy, talent, and knowledge have been used to fight against his bankrupt policies. Just imagine what could have been accomplished if all of this energy could be channeled into constructive activities to better Ohio instead of fighting against a flawed piece of legislation?

Although not about the union...it is all connected...destroying Ohio's environment.

"The award-winning documentary Gasland will be screened at Kent State University at Stark on Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Main Hall Auditorium, located at 6000 Frank Avenue NW in Jackson Township. This event is free and open to the public."

Support local businesses that support public sector employees.

I just think this is a brilliant idea. You can go to the Proud Workers of Ohio site to find local merchants who support public sector employees. From the website:

"The Proud Ohio Worker program was created to allow merchants across the state to show that they recognize public employee support for their shops. We are asking merchants to show their support in return for public employees by affixing our sticker to a window in the front of their store. This sticker is a signal to public and private employees that their shop is worker friendly, simply recognizing that public dollars are spent in their store.

Proud Ohio Workers wants to ensure that small shops all across Ohio will remain open. If public employee wages are reduced and jobs are cut, local businesses will suffer. Supporting the creation and retention of good paying middle class jobs is good for local economies."

Teach In!

Kent State University at Stark Campus

Senate Bill 5: Background and Implications

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Open to faculty, students, and the community

Room 007, Library (basement):

10:30-11:130 Mike Piotrowksi (General Counsel, Fraternal Order of Police / Ohio Labor Council)

A session related to the impact of SB 5 on police

11:30-12:15 Zach Schiller (Sociology/Stark)

“Thinking Sociologically about SB 5 and the Budget Crisis”

12:30-1:30 Deb Smith, Philosophy/Kent Campus and AAUP-KSU Grievance Chair

"The implications of Senate Bill 5 on collective bargaining at Kent State University."

Room 007, Library (basement):

2:00-3:30 National Teach-In with Cornell West and Frances Fox Piven

Live via webcast from Judson Memorial Church, New York City

3:30-4:30 Post Teach-In discussion (Andrea Adolph, Zach Schiller, Carey McDougall)