Published 26 May, 2011
We Are Ohio, the coalition working to overturn SB 5, the law signed by Governor Kasich that would all but eliminate collective bargaining for 350,000 public sector workers, reported last week that they have already collected 214,399 signatures.
This is good progress, as we are just about halfway to the June 30 deadline to collect the more than 231,000 valid signatures of registered voters we need to place a “Citizens’ Veto” referendum on the November ballot.
We Are Ohio said a sampling showed a signature validation rate of about 60 percent. If that holds true, we will have to collect about 400,000 signatures to have enough to make the ballot. But to be safe we need to get 450,000 to 500,000. So halfway to the deadline, we are about halfway to our goal.
Meanwhile, a poll released last week by Quinnipiac University showed that 54 percent of Ohioans favor repeal of Senate Bill 5.
Press on, Ohio!
This past Saturday, May 21st, President Bernie Burkett of TWU Local 1 in Akron, Ohio participated with the labor council community in the circulation of petitions at a pancake breakfast and Cherry Blossom Festival in the city of Barberton, Ohio. The haul for the day? 320 signatures!
On May 14, three volunteers from Local 2019 collected signatures at the Kames Corner Festival. Even though heavy rain and lighting ended festival early, each of the three filled a book of 70 signatures.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich was the keynote speaker at Local 2019’s annual dinner on Friday, May 20. His inspiring address focused on the big picture, Workers’ Rights as Human Rights, and the battle to save a middle class in the USA. 93 people attended the event, making it a smashing success.