Ohioans Vote No on Issue 2, Preserve Collective Bargaining for Fire Fighters

Ohio voters have delivered a resounding message to their governor – one that will likely reverberate across the nation in the coming months – soundly rejecting his effort to destroy collective bargaining for fire fighters and other public employees.

In a turnout that was heavy for an off-year ballot measure, Ohioans – by vote of 61 percent to 39 percent -- selected “No” on Issue 2, repealing Governor John Kasich’s signature reform measure that eliminated many rights of public employees – also known as Senate Bill 5.

The outcome in Ohio is not only a huge blow to extremist politicians who have launched anti-worker agendas -- defeating Issue 2 is also a momentum-shifting victory for the IAFF and other labor groups.

“The people of Ohio have spoken and John Kasich and those of his ilk can't help but notice," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Senate Bill 5 in Ohio was an overreach by those who thought they could strip proud workers of their rights as Americans - that's why Ohioans resoundingly killed it.

"Maybe extremist politicians who try to take advantage of a tough economic time for our country by targeting the basic core values and rights of those who work for a living will finally start to work toward real solutions that move this country forward through cooperation and bipartisanship, because that's what the American people want and that's what this vote reinforced," adds Schaitberger.

IAFF members demonstrated their clear feelings in the astounding response on Facebook to the news:

"The people of Ohio are getting wise to these thug governors...."

"Strong work Brothers and Sisters of Ohio! Thank you from the rest of the country!!"

"Great victory for labor!! Let's take this momentum into 2012."

"From Cincinnati Local 48, thank you for all the support from the International and everyone outside Ohio. It was a hard-fought win, but it's just one win. This type of attack on unions and collective bargaining WILL continue throughout the country and we need to be very prepared for it."

"Congrats Ohio! Let's hope Wisconsin follows."

"Another battle won...now on to the next. Good job Ohio!"

"Well done, Ohio - now the rest of America needs to wake up and get with the game! Let's go back to Wisconsin and boot Walker out of the statehouse!"

"A victory for the working class. Union solidarity and the efforts of our brothers and sisters educating the public of the true nature of the Republican agenda won out over the scare tactics and the race to the bottom."

"Bravo! But keep the guard up. They'll be back for sure."

"Never give up! Congrats Ohio! You've got Kasich on the run and scared. The whole country is watching."

"Great job but, sadly, I think our livelihoods will continue to be attacked until the end of our lives. This is just round one, but we are off to a good start."

"Congrats brothers and sisters to a job well done. There will be more attacks, however, the point was made. The voters made the decision. Voters do not like dirty politics."

"This is a great victory for all public service workers! It helps restore some faith that there are still people in the public who support us. We as the working class need to band together to take down these crook politicians who are against us."

Though polls leading up to the election suggested Ohioans would vote to end SB 5, labor groups – including the IAFF – left nothing to chance. The IAFF contributed significant resources to the “Vote No on Issue 2” efforts, including a potent advertising and get-out-the-vote campaign. And, We Are Ohio, a coalition of AFL-CIO labor unions that the IAFF assisted, conducted a huge grassroots and media campaign to convince voters to Vote No on Issue 2.

“SB 5 was nothing short of a brazen effort to cripple labor’s influence in Ohio and give more power to deep-pocketed corporate donors,” says IAFF 8th District Vice President Paul Hufnagel.

"In Ohio, there are no standards or safety regulations that govern the job we do, so we rely on collective bargaining agreements to make sure we have a voice, and the vote demonstrates that citizens understand the importance of that fact,” says President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF) Mark Sanders.