This letter is in response to the articles covering the protests by the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) against the attempt by Gov. John Kasich and the legislature to eliminate collective bargaining.
Public employee collective bargaining is defined as a good-faith process between management, Kasich, and a public employee union, OCSEA and AFSCME, representing its employees. The two parties negotiate wages, working hours, working conditions and other benefits. It benefits both parties because the governor is able to negotiate with one set of people and it gives the State Employees Union bargaining power. Collective bargaining is the quintessential idea upon which the state union system is based.
The key word here is "good-faith" and it appears to have been breached. Evidently, it wasn't good enough for the union to agree to so many concessions that already affect the quality of life of thousands of employees and their families.
Now, the governor and legislature want to take things a step further. Kasich was quoted as saying "If lawmakers don't dismantle public employees collective bargaining, then I will." Is this really the only solution? Has the governor or legislature considered all of the ways and means of reducing government waste before destroying the very critical role collective bargaining has played for so many years? How about increasing the payroll tax on certain Ohio professional sports teams? After all, they sure put out a great product or service that benefits us all.
It's easy to make decisions affecting other people's lives when those decisions do not affect your livelihood, something that is shared by the private sector as well. Why must the employee continue to be punished for the mistakes of government and corporate leadership or lack thereof? When will these "leaders" finally own up to their mistakes and share in the pain as well? Gov. Kasich, show some compassion. There are better ways to deal with the budget shortfall. OCSEA and AFSCME, continue to protest and know that all unions across the land are coming to support you.
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