Both my mother and father are public employees in Ohio, and both of them are affected by the governor’s revoking of their civil right to collectively bargain.
My dad is a firefighter, and Ohio’s Senate Bill 5 will make it easier for municipalities and local governments to reduce his benefits and salaries in the midst of economic stalls.
My mom was a school nurse and now teaches kindergarten at a school outside Columbus; yet, because of the bill, she could lose her job more easily because she is new to teaching, and collective bargaining helped new teachers gain traction during cuts. Overall, my family has been terribly screwed by the bill.
Thankfully, I work at a local restaurant and do not pay into any statewide system for employees.
I took summer classes at Ohio University and have transferred credits to begin at Hocking College this winter for a forestry and natural resources degree.
I honestly wish OU had offered me more direction to keep me as a part-time student. Another advantage at Hocking is that I have been assured a job on its campus while I study. Ohio University did not have opportunities lined up for me last year — or if they did, I did not know anything about them.
Students should do a lot more on their campus to help both public employees affected by SB 5 and student employees. Not only does a school that values its students work to help them, but other students at such a school do, too.
I expected far better from a large public university and hope it improves to keep people like me.
Chelsea Walsh is a junior at Hocking College studying forestry, natural resources and biochemistry.
