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Okay, Kasich, you win!
By Bob Rhoades
I have read just about everything that I can read about SB 5. It didn’t
make any sense in the beginning and the only thing that makes any sense
now is that local political subdivisions may have gained some things
that before they had to negotiate for. OK, I’ll give you that.
I’ll also be watching very closely to see how this helps to fix
everything. I’ll take Mr. Buchy’s explanation at face value and
then hide and watch.
Some of those terrible municipal employees, namely Dayton Firefighters
Local 136 IAFF, just negotiated a contract that gave major concessions
to the City of Dayton mainly because they felt having a job was better
than not having a job. No stupidity there. I wonder how
Dayton city leaders feel about their firefighters and negotiations at
this point.
Local politicians who didn’t do their jobs for years, who didn’t watch
the bank book, who let jobs go south or north or wherever they went
should take notice. It’ll make little difference which side of
the aisle they are on. Your hat will no longer have a D or an R
on it. It will have a P for politician. Many of you have
distinguished yourselves by not listening to your constituents.
You won the first round, bully for you.
Now then back to our brothers at Local 136. Everyone needs to
take notice of who negotiates contracts and what they negotiate for
from now on. Two years ago, without much negotiation, Columbus
Firefighters Local 67 gave up a pay raise and along the line other
concessions. This was done in return for a guarantee that they
would all keep their jobs and not be laid off. That lasted a
couple of months and the city of Columbus announced plans to lay off
firefighters. Dayton’s guys said that they wanted to keep
companies in service. People get real excited when 10 fire
trucks show up. If there is only two people on it not much is
going to happen. You see there are first of all safety standards
to look at. One of those says two guys in, two guys out.
Another says all working fires should have a Rapid Intervention Crew at
the ready when others are working inside. That is what they are
trying to protect.
Every Firefighter Local Union, every Fraternal Order of Police Lodge,
every Ohio Education Association group and every union representing
city and government workers has the golden opportunity right now to
show the world who takes care of the rest of the world at their job and
at the negotiation table.
When a person like Kasich says that unions have bullied their way
through negotiations, I feel so sorry for those government leaders who
got bullied. If it did happen, someone let it happen.
Someone didn’t come to the table ready to negotiate. Kasich
should recognize bullying, it just occurred in the state house.
Union Medics at Greenville Township EMS finished negotiations just
before the vote on SB 5. One told me how happy they were it was
over. He also said that they didn’t get everything they wanted,
but were satisfied with their agreement. That folks is
negotiations. At this time we all better watch the politicians,
not their employees. Get involved with government and understand
what is going on.
I can’t wait to see what he’s got up his sleeve next!
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