Apparently Republicans have started an all out war against the Union?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704506004576174740670442266.html



COLUMBUS, Ohio鈥擱epublican lawmakers presented amendments Tuesday that would scale back a bill intended to curb public employees' collective-bargaining rights, as thousands of union members rallied at the statehouse against the measure.



The amendments, presented by Republican Sen. Shannon Jones, would prohibit unions that represent the state's 400,000 public workers from bargaining over health benefits, pensions and working conditions. Those terms would be set by employers. Unions would be permitted to continue bargaining over wages, hours and certain terms of employment.



Public workers would no longer be allowed to strike and would be subject to penalties if they did, including being docked twice their daily pay for each day they participate in a strike, or as much as $1,000 if they violate a court injunction.



"We're going to reform collective bargaining," said Republican Sen. Kevin Bacon, who led the 12-member insurance-, commerce- and labor-committee hearing, which lasted less than 30 minutes.



Mr. Bacon said the changes are needed to help state and local employers trim labor costs to help make up projected budget shortfalls statewide. "What we're trying to do is give them the flexibility so they can make adjustments, just like a business would," he said.



Mr. Bacon said Republicans would meet with Democrats Tuesday night to discuss the amendments. He said the committee could vote on the measure Wednesday, which could lead to a vote of the Republican-led Senate later that day. If it passes, it proceeds to the Republican-controlled House.



Democrats criticized the changes to collective-bargaining rules and said they would request further testimony on how the amendments would affect workers in the state.



"This isn't a slam dunk," said Democrat Sen. Joe Schiavoni, who is on the committee. He said Democrats would go over the 99 pages of amendments with a "fine-tooth comb." "We're going to drill her with questions tomorrow," he said of Ms. Jones. "We're not done yet."



Meanwhile, protesters filled the lawn outside the statehouse, chanting "We are the middle class!" and "Yes to workers! No to Kasich!" referring to Gov. John Kasich, who supports Senate Republicans' efforts to restrict bargaining rights for public workers. Capitol officials estimated the crowd at 8,500, while the senate Democratic caucus said they believed it was roughly twice that.



James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, told the crowd his union's 1.4 million members support their opposition to the bill. "Today they take on the public employees. Tomorrow they take on the private sector!" he said.



Deirdre Devine, 41, of Hubbard, Ohio, wore red earmuffs and a yellow paper hat that said "Impeach Kasich." A supervisor in the Mahoning County jobs- and family-services agency who was laid off in September, she said she left her home at 6 a.m. to drive to the rally. If the bill passes, she said she believes it will drive down workers' wages across the state. "We'll all be earning seven bucks an hour with no health insurance. How is that going to stimulate the economy?"



Republican state Rep. William Coley walked past the crowd and said he was waiting to see what the final senate bill looked like but that collective-bargaining rules needed to be changed to make the state more competitive. "We're not worried about the noise," he said of the protesters. "We're worried about the silence as more businesses leave the state."Apparently Republicans have started an all out war against the Union?
Republicans ALWAYS fight against the Middle Class.



It's their Ideology.



But this particular 'war' ... is merely a diversion ... to divert attention away from the BILLIONS that Bankers are awarding their employees with the Bail Out money we gave them.



Republicans are all FOR THAT.



LOL ... Republicans today ... they have no morals ... no values ... no honor.



And this is replicated by all the righties here on YA ... who continually ask the stupidest questions I've every seen.



Thanks!
so the rich would hire for your additional details and its about time those corrupt left wing people need to go they have way better wages and benefits than the private sector Im goin Union busting :)Apparently Republicans have started an all out war against the Union?
where is your question?



there is no war on the union. they are trying to keep the governments from going bankrupt having to pay out these very lucrative pension and benefint packages bought for with democrats excepting union bribes.
Because the rich need to be richer! You must believe that the wealthy will take care of those less fortunate, and they will start by eliminating unions, since unions are evil!Apparently Republicans have started an all out war against the Union?
Good,,,they should not receive tax payer $, I'd rather buy a TV with mine.

0bama stated to keep the unemployment rate below 8%.

Hope this helps.
This is nothing new, the more they scream the more we shall unite and not only in the federal sector. Check NTEU and AFGE Websites.
Yeah. And?
well that's great i hope they will continue to make this great country better..
No. When we declare war, we do it right. This isn't war.



This is austerity measures for a nation with trillions of dollars in debt, and many many trillions more in unfunded mandates coming up the next few decades. You won't let us cut the big programs, so we're trying to squeeze efficiency out of this stuff.
To answer your question;



No, Governors want the same thing for state workers that Obama has for federal workers. Federal workers have no collective bargaining rights thanks to Democrats and Jimmy Carter who removed them in 1978.



In 1978, Democratic President Jimmy Carter, backed by a Democratic Congress, passed the Civil Service Reform Act. Washington had already established its General Schedule (GS) classification and pay system for workers. The 1978 bill went further, focused as it was on worker accountability and performance. It severely proscribed the issues over which employees could bargain, as well as prohibited compulsory union support.



http://politisite.com/2011/02/25/fact-ob鈥?/a>
They are using this economy to manipulate the public...before unions-Triangle Shirtwaist Factory...child labor...no living wages....people have short memories!





are we really supposed to believe paying workers a living wage and giving them benefits is what is bankrupting this country? how many banks were given millions in bailout money...and STILL gave their ceos and execs EXTREME bonuses and salaries...and what happened to them? they got yelled at....and it is still business as usual.



busting unions will kill the middle class-
It is an all out assault on the middle class. Free people can collectively bargain. In countries like Cuba they can't. Is America going to join the likes of communist Cuba? If those communist republicans have their way it will.

http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/mis鈥?/a>