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Open letter to Ohio Legislators regarding Right to Work legislation

5/17/2013 Click here for printable version

May 17, 2013

SUBJ:  Support of Fair Labor Practices and Working Families; Opposition to “Right to Work” Laws and the “Workplace Freedom” Constitutional Amendment 

Dear Legislator:

We, the undersigned members of the Cuyahoga County Council and Ed FitzGerald, Cuyahoga County Executive, write to object to any attempts to enact so-called “right to work” laws in Ohio or a “Workplace Freedom” amendment to the Ohio Constitution.   We do so because we support fair labor practices and Ohio’s working families.  

Critical lowered quality of life measures are the hallmarks of “right to work” states - everything from lower wages, higher poverty and infant mortality rates, less access to health care and poorer education for children.  These types of laws will do nothing for the economy of Ohio.  And they will make it harder for public safety workers and health care workers to bargain for the staffing levels and equipment they need to keep Ohioans safe and healthy. 

Less than two years ago, Ohio voters soundly rejected a similar attempt to restrict the rights of Ohio workers by overwhelmingly defeating Senate Bill 5/Issue 2.  The peoples’ sentiments are clear – collective bargaining rights in Ohio should be protected.  We agree with Ohio voters. 

We urge members of the Ohio General Assembly to resist the distractions of such laws and stand in support of Ohio workers. 

Sincerely,

C. Ellen Connally, Council President	Edward FitzGerald, County Executive	Dan Brady, Council Vice President
Chuck Germana, District 4	Yvonne M. Conwell, District 7	Sunny M. Simon, District 11
Pernel Jones, Jr., District 8	Julian Rogers, District 10	Dale Miller, District 2

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