I am writing to express my disappointment that Student Senate was unable to pass a resolution condemning collective bargaining restrictions in Issue 2 and also to express my enthusiasm that the Ohio Student Government Association was able to do what we at OU could not.
Issue 2, if passed, will severely harm the quality of life for students whether directly after graduation, when some will become public servants, or indirectly by causing lay-offs for staff that provide essential services to this university.
As the Senator for the Honors Tutorial College, I supported the resolution that would have expressed our collective dissatisfaction with a state policy that adversely affects my constituents, their friends and family and our wonderful staff.
I want to urge students to vote no on Issue 2 this November, as a no vote will ensure that through collective bargaining public employees can be confident in the fact that they will make a living wage while working reasonable hours.
Also, collective bargaining is currently the only means by which LGBT workers can guarantee benefits for their partners.
Issue 2 will not ‘protect hard workers,’ as some say it will. Instead, it will put public employees (which, contrary to popular opinion, are not overpaid or overcompensated compared to private sector employees) at a severe disadvantage at the bargaining table, allowing management to make ludicrous demands that will harm Ohio families and workers.
Please vote no on Issue 2 and stand with Ohio’s teachers, firefighters, police officers and our own university’s staff.
-Jared Henderson is a junior studying philosophy
and is the senator for the Honors Tutorial College.
