GALLIPOLIS — Public workers are angry.
That anger was expressed through roars and cheers as former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland took the stage at Saturday’s “No on Issue 2” rally held at the Gallia County Junior Fairgrounds in Gallipolis.
“You are a beautiful sight,” Strickland said, addressing the crowd voicing their opposition to Issue 2, a referendum to repeal Senate Bill 5. “You are here today sending a message to the powers that be that we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it any longer.”
The rally was organized by We Are Ohio along with Liz Shaw and Carole Roush, co-chairs of the Southeast Ohio Solidarity Committee.
Those who oppose Issue 2 argue that eliminating collective-bargaining rights from public employees would take away the ability to negotiate safe staffing levels and important public services could be stretched thin.
After tallying more than 900,000 validated signatures this spring, the anti-SB 5 coalition We Are Ohio placed the referendum on the November ballot to repeal the law, a cost-cutting measure supported by Gov. John Kasich.
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-33rd; and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown also spoke at the rally.
Although the majority of those in attendance were union workers and area residents, the event was well attended by the Ohio University College Democrats.
“College Dems isn’t here because it’s a partisan issue,” said the organization’s president Nick Tuell. “We’re here because this affects us as OU students directly. The cooks at (Baker University Center), the janitors that clean up after us — they could all be affected by this bill.”
Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl also made an appearance at the rally and said he believes OU employees, students and Athens residents would be “shortchanged” by the bill.
“They won’t be able to bargain for themselves — and they’re the best ones to be able to evaluate what they need,” Wiehl said. “Also, you’re going to make the people at the university work harder for less benefits. … These are the people you’re not appreciating. They work hard to be there for students.”
Some of those workers, including Patton College of Education administrative associate Marcy O’Brien, were on hand at the rally.
“This is going to impact my life and (students’) lives,” O’Brien said. “Kasich thinks we have too much power and too many benefits, but we’re fighting for basic benefits.”
jj360410@ohiou.edu
