Ohio Is for Haters

Have you ever wondered why you weren't forced into working at an unsafe factory when you were a kid, or why you don't have to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week?

Well, you can thank a union for that. Since the beginning of industrialization, unions have played an integral role in ensuring workers' rights and safety. For just as long, they've been under assault by business leaders and government.

On Tuesday, voters in Ohio get a chance to push back against those forces to protect the union that represents their state workers.

Senate Bill 5 was signed into law back in march, and had a wide effect. Originally, the law banned all collective bargaining, but was reworked to only ban bargaining for benefits.

SB 5 also eliminates automatic raises based on seniority in favor of a system that supposedly rewards teachers based on performance. On top of that, most other rules on seniority are thrown out the window, like tenure and layoff priority.

Ohio touched a hornet's nest when it went further than similar legislation, like that of Wisconsin, and included police and firefighters under the laws. With that inclusion, the total number of people affected could reach 350,000 if the resolution, Issue 2, is passed.

The battle has been extremely fierce from a monetary stance. The main group fighting SB 5, We Are Ohio, had raised $24 million by the middle of October. That's more money than every dollar raised for 2008 presidential campaigns in Ohio combined.

It's insane to see where the priorities of the Ohio government lie. Like many other states, Ohio is feeling the pinch of the bad economy, and needs to save money, but for some reason the state is looking at the people who do the most.

The legislation hurts teachers, policemen, firefighters, and nurses all so that the state can avoid making changes to the education system that are actually worthwhile. Without a way to collectively bargain for their benefits, workers will be completely powerless to any changes to one of the most important aspects of employment.

While basing pay raises on performance sounds like a good idea and often has popular support, it is commonly a flawed system.

Teachers who constantly struggle with students who are on the edge are less likely to be recognized for their work and get the raises and recognition than teachers who work with already gifted students.

In the end, what you get with "performance based" raises and perks in many public jobs become subjective and easily corruptible.

What should be done is a combination of automatic pay raises and performance review. That way, the incentive to do well is there and the people who have long time experience will be satisfied.

Unions need this win in Ohio. Throughout the nation, including here in New York, workers have been under attack in the name of a momentary political statement. Victory will excite democrats, who have sustained large losses since 2010, right in the beginning of a new election cycle.

Ohioans who care about educated children, safe streets, and healthy people should vote no on Issue 2, and force their government to rework the terrible law.