Ohio Votes to Protect Public Sector Collective Bargaining Rights

In a decisive victory for workers and organized labor Ohio Senate Bill 5 was overwhelmingly defeated Tuesday night in a statewide referendum. The bill which was similar to Wisconsin’s Act 10 in restricting and eliminating the right of public sector workers to collectively bargain was highly unpopular in the state. The vote sends a clear message to Republican lawmakers across the country and in Wisconsin that the push to destroy collective bargaining rights in the public sector was an overreach. The strong margin of victory undeniably energizes and creates momentum for opponents of Governor Scott Walker and Act 10 on the eve of recall efforts that will begin in less than a week.