On Oct. 20, SEIU 721 sent members Daren McDaniel, Sonya Laster, Carol Maxey-Ware, Tracey Boykins and staff member Adrian Lau to Ohio to help defeat a ballot referendum (Issue 2) that would harm public services by removing all collective bargaining rights from workers including safe staffing levels and more.
“It’s important that we help stand for quality public services in Ohio and help defeat this job killing bill which harms Ohio residents and schools” said Tracey Boykins, LA County DPSS Eligibility Worker.
Ohio’s Governor John Kasich is a former Wall Street executive and Fox News Talk Show Host. He worked for Lehman Brothers leading up to the financial collapse and as Governor he has been protecting corporate interests while working to undermine public services and the safety net they provide communities. Ohio has a budget deficit and like many other states looking to find ways to cut services rather than hold big businesses and banks accountable to paying their fair share.
“Elected officials and businesses should be focusing on creating jobs not destroying them and 
that’s what will happen if Issue 2 passes” said Daren McDaniels, City of LA/Traffic Officer II.
Governor Kasich’s Issue 2 is an attack on workers and public services that communities rely on, the referendum removes collective bargaining rights, public protections and safeguards in the name of creating more government efficiency and cutting costs.
This law, if it goes into effect, will do several things:
- Allows the Governor to suspend all union contracts.
- Suspends all contract language including safe staffing standards for nurses or public safety personnel.
- Removes the ability for front-line workers to advocate for effective equipment and standards to do their jobs safely and effectively.
- Will lead to further job loss throughout the state.
The SEIU 721 team will speak with and educate voters in Canton and Cleveland through the Nov. 8 election day.
Click on link for more information about Ohio and Issue 2: http://seiu1199.org/index.php