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Local 4502 Plays Role in Statewide Opposition to SB 5

Since early January, Local 4502 leadership have been actively participating in the campaign to oppose HB 5, which propses to repeal Ohio's collective bargaining law. President Bellous and Vice President McCune have participated in two rallys to date and have asked your elected Board members and appointed Department Reps to step up and represent your interests in this critical battle. President Bellous, in solidarity with CWA District 4 and Central Ohio's Chapter of the AFL-CIO has initiated a mobilization effort to educate, inform and lobby for the Legislature to do the right thing and defend collective bargaining laws which serve to protect public sector employees in relation to the political nature of governmental work, and the Ohio taxpayer who expects basic public services to continue uninterrupted, regardless of the election cycle.

For those of you who thought the Legislation introduced last week on the Senate floor was no big deal, or may be aimed at other public sector employees, it is time to wake up! Not only has the public sector employee been labeled in the media as a major cause of Ohio's budget crisis, the legislation presently before Ohio’s Senate strikes ALL  the collective bargaining laws in our State. What does that mean to us, as City of Columbus employees?  If adopted as presented, you would work at the discretion and whim of the jurisdiction. You’re right to collectively approach the City and bargain for wages and benefits, gone. You’re right to have non-partisan representation before your employer, eliminated. You’re right to have your complaint or dispute heard before a neutral party outside the governmental organization; taken away. Having your many years of public service count in the event of a layoff, gone. It is important that you not be naive - and believe for a moment that the legislative changes would not eventually be adopted by all municipalities in Ohio. The fate of middle class Ohio, even America, is about to be played out right here in our state. One of the last working class sectors in this Country is facing extinction and the public is taking the bait.

How many of us feel strongly that given the chance, a governmental entity at any level would offer fair raises; manage employees uniformly and base that on sound written policy. Offer incentive and advancement opportunities based on criteria other than a “favorites” system. How about listening or acting on savings recommendations given by employees that may be uncomfortable for the elected and appointed officials over them? The average Columbus taxpayer doesn't understand Public sector employers are all together different in scope, ideal and operation than Private sector employers! The Ohio citizen probably doesn’t know that without legislated protection for public sector employees - changes in political landscapes often lead to complete changes in administration and management and negative impacts on public services.

Local 4502 has created a new area of this website to provide information and resource regarding the organized campaign to oppose changes in Ohio's collective bargaining law. It will offer news, events, education and facts for our members to share with family, friends and neighbors. The citizen/taxpayer of Ohio needs to know the truth about what they are being told. There is another world of information they need in order to form an educated opinion on what the media and political machine is telling them.

You can access the new website area by clicking on the "Public Sector Campaign" button on our main page. Click on the hyper-link below or log on at: CWA Local 4502 Website

Get engaged, get informed and get our message out. Let's not allow the disception and agenda of a new Governor and a philosophy of political entitlement harm those people we have dedicated our careers and our talents to serve!

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