We Are Ohio

Right to Work is WRONG

Labor United In Opposition To Higher Ed Proposal

Columbus – Over 70 labor organizations have signed on to a letter addressed to Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and members of the Ohio House of Representatives opposing Senate Bill 83 and House Bill 151. These bills would prohibit strikes and limit bargaining subjects for unionized workers at Ohio’s public colleges and universities.

“Over 70 labor organizations have come together in opposition to Senate Bill 83 and House Bill 151. We are sending a clear message: a threat to one union is a threat to all,” said Chris Mabe, Chair of We Are Ohio. “These bad bills will affect roughly 10,000 campus union members, but that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the tens of thousands of workers all across Ohio who are prepared to stand up and fight for our most fundamental collective bargaining rights.”

To read the full letter and see the list of organizations that have signed on click here.

We Are Ohio is a citizen-driven, community-based, bipartisan coalition that includes public and private sector workers and employees, autoworkers, police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, pastors, small business owners, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, local elected officials and business leaders, students, Moms, Dads, family members and your neighbors.

One Person One Vote Campaign Files Lawsuit Alongside Ohio Voters 

Challenging August 8 Special Election for Special Interests

COLUMBUS – One Person One Vote, the citizen-driven, grassroots, non-partisan coalition dedicated to preserving majority rule in Ohio, filed a lawsuit today in the Ohio Supreme Court challenging the $20 million August special election being held at the behest of special interests.

“Our complaint asks the Ohio Supreme Court to call this election what it is: illegal. Just five months ago the General Assembly specifically prohibited all statewide special elections in August. Secretary LaRose explained that August elections have “embarrassingly low” turnout and are bad for taxpayers, election officials, voters, and the civic health of our state. To that end, the General Assembly revised Ohio law to allow elections only during November, March, or May and they’ve done nothing since that time to change the law. Constitutional amendments may be voted on in November, March or May – not August – and we’re confident the Court will agree.” said Dennis Willard, spokesperson for One Person One Vote.

“The question every voter should be asking themselves is – why August, when there was already an election scheduled for November? The answer is simple: because that’s what special interests wanted. Special interests spent millions lobbying for an August election – which will cost taxpayers $20 million – specifically because that’s when turnout is the lowest. This is an illegal special election for special interests. Period.”

Read the complaint here. Case No. 2023-0630. Note: Ohio Supreme Court site may take a few minutes to update.

The Protect One Person One Vote campaign is a citizen-driven, grassroots, non-partisan coalition representing millions of Ohio voters that has come together to protect the sacred principle of one person one vote, and preserve majority rule in Ohio. 

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For more information:

Dennis Willard

614.209.8945

dennis@precisionnewmedia.com

Important: Everything You Need To Know About Lauren Bowen, The Anti-Worker Hypocrite

Lauren Bowen is the mouthpiece for the anti-worker Fake Freedom Foundation, a front group bought and paid for by anti-worker, anti-union billionaires like Betsy DeVos, the Koch Family, the Bradley Foundation and others.

Lauren Bowen is making harmful claims about hardworking teachers and school administrators.
She blames teachers and at-home learning for kids’ depression and low test scores, even suicides. Yes, suicides.

Here is what Lauren Bowen recently wrote: “at least educators will get a two-week reprieve while displaced students continue to deal with the real epidemic caused by two years’ worth of enforced distance learning — lower test scores, reduced motivation, depression, substance abuse and even suicide.”

Click here to give Lauren Bowen a piece of your mind right now.

Lauren Bowen is a hypocrite. She supports online charter schools that have distance learning like ECOT and attacks public school teachers who want to keep their students, families, our communities and themselves safe.

The Fake Freedom Foundation is a front group that is willing to do and say anything to appease their true masters.  

It’s wrong and horribly cruel to imply that Ohio’s teachers – the men and women who spend every day educating the next generation – are failing our kids.

Click here to give Lauren Bowen a piece of your mind right now.

Ohio Labor Leaders Call on SOS LaRose to Ensure November Election is Safe, Accessible

Leaders Outline 4 Steps SOS Has Authority to Implement

COLUMBUS – Ohio Labor Leaders called on Secretary of State Frank LaRose to ensure November’s election is safe and accessible by taking four steps immediately to make the online absentee ballot applications process easier, prepay postage, provide multiple drop boxes in each county and stop the consolidation of voting places.

In a letter to LaRose from Chris Mabe, President of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association and Chair of the We Are Ohio board and Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO President and Vice-chair of the We Are Ohio board, the leaders noted the Secretary of State has broad authority under existing law through his administrative powers, and he does not need legislative approval to implement the four critical steps to a fair, secure and safe electoral process for all Ohio voters.

“We are heartened by the statements you have made and the work that you have done in anticipation of the challenges we face this fall. We applaud your commitment to ensure that Ohio does not experience the kinds of voting calamities we have seen recently in other states. It is increasingly clear the legislature will not act on a number of necessary measures to ensure safe and accessible elections,” said Mabe, Burga and leaders in the letter.

“We greatly appreciate the care and concern you have shown as we approach this challenging election. If steps are taken now, we can greatly mitigate the risk the Pandemic presents to safety and ballot access for Ohio voters. Like you, we want Ohio to be an example of how things should be done in times of crisis. Thank you for the collaborative approach you are taking on these issues,” said Mabe, Burga and leaders in the letter.

“We are fortunate that the Ohio Revised Code grants your office broad powers over voting in Ohio. To ensure the integrity of our elections this fall, we hope you will expeditiously use your administrative powers and take the following important actions to safeguard ballot access in this challenging time:

• Online Absentee Ballot Applications – As you know, ORC 3509.03 gives great latitude on the form of absentee application a voter may use. We know you agree that online applications are a vital tool for the increased absentee voting we will see this fall. We have been encouraged by your statements that your office can implement this mechanism expeditiously.
• Prepaid Postage – As you have said, a plan that does not afford every Ohioan an opportunity to vote free of charge would be unconstitutional. We absolutely agree, and feel it is crucial that postage be prepaid for Ohioans’ absentee ballot applications and ballots. We are fortunate that Ohio’s CARES Act funding allocation and additional federal funding potentially moving through Congress helps to alleviate the argument that this may not be affordable.
• Multiple Drop Boxes – Making it more convenient for voters to safely drop off applications and ballots is a common-sense step we can take to ensure voter access during this Pandemic. We recognize you have sought advice from the Ohio Attorney General on this issue. We urge you to act quickly once you receive guidance to ensure that Boards can incorporate this important tool in their election planning.
• Stop Consolidation of Voting Places – Like you, we are concerned about the lines, disruption and obvious safety issues we witnessed in other states where large numbers of voters were forced to vote in consolidated polling locations. We cannot afford the risk to our voters, poll workers and our state’s reputation to allow such a thing to happen in Ohio this November.

The letter was signed by Mabe, Burga and the following labor leaders:
Scott DiMauro, President Ohio Education Association
Melissa Cropper, President, Ohio Federation of Teachers
Lois Fields-Carson, State President Ohio Assoc. of Public School Employees OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4
Sean Grayson, President, AFSCME Council 8
Linda L. Hinton, Vice President Communications Workers of America – Dist. 4
Becky Williams, President, SEIU 1199
Donnie E. Blatt, Director USW – District 1
John T. McNay, President, Ohio Conference AAUP
Randy Quickel, President, UFCW Local 1059
Kevin Garvey, President UFCW Local 75
Theotis L. James, Transport Workers of America Union Executive Board Member International Representative
Wayne Blanchard, Assistant Director United Auto Workers Region 2-B
Andre Washington, State President, APRI Ohio
Davida Russell, Ohio Chapter President, Coalition of Labor Union Women
Petee Talley, Region V Representative Coalition of Black Trade Unionists President, Ohio Unity Coalition
Norm Wernet, President Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans Ed. Fund

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CONTACT:Dennis Willard
614-209-8945
dennis@precisionnewmedia.com

Want to send your own letter to Frank LaRose and ask him to protect our right to vote safely and securely? Click the button below!

Send LaRose A Letter

‘Right To Work’ Group Threatens To Sue Ohio Over Union Fees

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public sector unions cannot mandate fees for employees who aren’t members, even if they’re covered by collective bargaining deals. But Ohio’s largest public employee union says the threat is unnecessary – and went to the wrong agency anyway.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation sent a letter to state Treasurer Josh Mandel, demanding a halt to mandatory “shop fees” being deducted from non-union members’ paychecks.

But Chris Mabe with the Ohio Civil Service Employees Union says the Treasurer’s Office doesn’t handle such issues. And he said the OCSEA had already sent its own letter to the state after the “Janus v. AFSCME” decision.

Read the full article here.

We Are Ohio. Standing strong, supporting workers.