Trumka stumps against Ohio bargaining bill

CLEVELAND, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was in Cleveland Monday, rallying opponents to the state's new collective bargaining law to vote to repeal it.

Voters Tuesday can vote yes on Issue 2, which would preserve the new, restrictive collective bargaining law or "no," which would repeal it.

Trumka, college students and local union members door-knocked in the area, urging a "no" vote on Ohio Issue 2, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday.

The Issue 2 battle drew national attention as Ohio has become the latest battleground over collective bargaining for public employees.

Among other things, the law also known as Senate Bill 5 reduces the collective bargaining power of about 360,000 public workers in Ohio, eliminating workers' ability to bargain changes from a previous contract. The law also bars bargaining for issues such as healthcare benefits and says other issues could be bargained only if management agrees, The Plain Dealer said.

It also bans strikes by public workers, eliminates binding arbitration, caps personal days and paid holidays, and requires public workers to pay at least 15 percent of their healthcare costs and contribute at least 10 percent of their salary toward their pension.

Polling has been favoring labor in the contest, The Hill said. A Public Policy Polling survey released Sunday indicated 59 percent of Ohio voters favored repeal of Senate Bill 5 and 36 percent were against repeal.