Eleven years ago, OCSEA and other Ohio public sector union members used a citizen-led veto measure to stop Senate Bill 5. That bill would have robbed public employees’ rights to form and negotiate as unions. But Ohio union members, like those in our union, got enough signatures to put it on the ballot and put it up for a vote of the people. And Ohioans agreed with us and voted to protect our collective bargaining rights!!!
Now, House Joint Resolution 1 could be the thing that undermines our rights again. HJR 1 is unfair, undemocratic, and unnecessary. It makes it harder for Ohioans to have the freedom to voice our concerns on matters such as our collective bargaining rights via citizen ballot initiatives.
In fact, HJR1 ends majority rule in Ohio by requiring ballot measures pass by a super majority or 60 percent. That means 41 percent of voters, a small amount, can block initiatives that a majority want. That shreds our constitution and takes away the people’s right to decide what happens.
Special interests and high-powered lobbyists are pushing this constitutional amendment because they want to rewrite the rules to benefit them. But we know HJR 1 takes away our freedom and rights to decide what happens. Ballot initiatives let us exercise that freedom.
OCSEA leaders and activists will be keeping a sharp eye out for any hearing on this bill, which is expected in the near future. “We’ll need to pack hearing rooms, just like we did with Senate Bill 5,” said OCSEA Pres. Chris Mabe. “These threats aren’t going away. We need to remain vigilant,” he said.