All Eyes On Ohio

The outcome of a vote on an anti-union measure in Ohio will undoubtedly have national significance. Connie Schultz writes in her new column, “Not To Brag, But It’s All About Ohio Again”:

What’s going to happen with Issue 2?

If you’re a voter in Ohio, you already know a lot about this ballot issue.

If you don’t live in Ohio, you still should know about it. The fate of Ohio’s Issue 2 could determine the future of your state, too.

Issue 2 is a referendum on SB 5, which the Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature passed earlier this year to limit the collective bargaining rights of 350,000 public employees, including police officers, firefighters, teachers and state workers.

This law makes it impossible for public employees to negotiate their health coverage. Other workplace issues — such as starting and quitting times and work conditions — can be negotiated only if management agrees to discuss them. Strikes are prohibited, and disputes are resolved not by an independent arbitrator, but by the relevant legislative body. If legislators can’t decide, the employer wins.

A popular anti-SB 5 campaign button sums up its impact pretty well: United We Stand, Divided We Beg.

Politicians across the country are waiting to see what happens after the votes are counted in Ohio next month. Sorry to show off, but you know the mantra: As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.