COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROTESTS SPREAD TO OHIO

All eyes are on Wisconsin as a battle unfolds between public employee unions and Republican lawmakers looking to limit their collective bargaining rights. But as overburdened state governments look to close deficits and cut costs, other states are in the middle of the same debate.


In Ohio, a fight has been playing out more quietly over a bill that would end collective bargaining for all state workers and limit it for other public employees. The legislation would also eliminate salary schedules in favor of merit pay, a measure that has been heavily criticized by the state's public safety workers' unions. Unlike Wisconsin's bill, the Ohio legislation includes firefighters and police officers unions. BI