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Smart Voter
State of Ohio November 8, 2011 Election
Issue 2
Referendum on New Law Relative to Government Union Contracts and Other Government Employment Contracts and Policies
State of Ohio
Referendum - Majority Approval Required

Fail: 1,352,366 / 38.67% Yes votes ...... 2,145,042 / 61.33% No votes

See Also: Index of all Issues
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 5 is a new law relative to government union contracts and other government employment contracts and policies.

A "YES" vote means you approve the law. A "NO" vote means you reject the law.

This proposed referendum would: Affect public employees, in particular, teachers, firefighters and police. Prohibit public employees from striking, eliminate binding arbitration as a way to settle contract disputes, require performance based pay for teachers, establish a minimum that public employees must pay for health insurance and pensions, allow the governing body (public employer) to impose its own last offer to settle a contract dispute.

If approved, the provisions of SB 5 will take effect immediately after the election.

SHALL THE LAW BE APPROVED?
YES (To approve the law)
NO (To reject the law)

Impartial Analysis from League of Women Voters of Ohio
Explanation: Approval of SB 5 changes laws concerning public employees, in particular teachers, firefighters and police. Major changes affect collective bargaining rights, salary schedules and compensation, layoff procedures, and leave. For example, approval would: prohibit public employees from striking; eliminate binding arbitration as a way to settle contract disputes for safety forces; require performance+based pay for teachers; provide a minimum that public employees must pay for pensions and health insurance; allow the governing body (public employer) to impose its own last offer to settle a contract dispute.

   Official Information

Secretary of State Ballot Board Reports for Issue 2

Nonpartisan Information

League of Women Voters

News and Analysis

October 4 debate with Gary Greenberg & David Pepper (sponsored by Junior League & League of Women Voters)

September 22 debate with State Senators Shannon Jones and Connie Pillich Google News Search WVXU 91.7 FM (Cincinnati) General Links

Pro and Con Websites

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Arguments For Issue 2 Arguments Against Issue 2
1. Schools and local governments need to reduce costs to balance their budgets. They must have the right to reject unaffordable government employment contracts.

2. Government employees should pay a larger portion of the cost of health insurance and retirement plans in an amount closer to that paid by private sector employees.

3. Seniority-based layoffs for teachers often force the best teachers to be laid off first.

1. Public employees should have rights to protect themselves in the workplace. For example, police and firefighters should be able to negotiate for critical safety equipment. Nurses should be able to demand reasonable staffing levels in hospitals.

2. The budget shouldn't be balanced by requiring additional sacrifices by Ohio's public employees who have already made over $350 million in concessions. Corporations should give up their tax breaks.

3. Teachers, nurses and firefighters did not cause Ohio's budget problems.

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Created: January 20, 2012 12:04 PST
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