The repeal of issue 2 in Ohio was a great victory for Unions and working families in Ohio and the rest of the Nation. By a nearly 2-1 margin, Ohio voters repealed a new law that would have severely limited the bargaining rights of more than 350,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state employees. I applaud the National Officers, Staff, UWUA Local’s, AFL-CIO and the working class families of Ohio, for their undying pursuit to protect Union rights. Local 600 has been involved from the beginning starting with a strategic meeting in Columbus on February 17th, called by National President, Mike Langford which included all UWUA Local Unions from across the state of Ohio. President Langford stressed the importance of everyone attending an upcoming protest /rally in Columbus on February 22nd, to voice their opposition to Senate Bill 5. The show of force came ahead of a fourth committee hearing on SB5, which began about 4 p.m. This led to Union members rallying together to defeat Issue 2 which resulted in the state's highest voter turnout in 20 years for an off-year general election.

The results have already caused a ripple effect in Cincinnati. Nine open seats of Cincinnati City Council have been filled with five incumbents reclaiming their spots and four newcomers being voted in. Republicans Leslie Ghiz, Wayne Lippert and Amy Murray plus Charterite Chris Bortz were denied another two-year term. Taking their place will be Democrats P.G. Sittenfeld, Yvette Simpson, Christopher Smitherman and Chris Seelbach. They’ll join Charterite Roxanne Qualls, Republican Charlie Winburn and Democrats Laure Quinlivan, Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young. Democrats now hold seven of the nine council seats to work with Mayor Mark Mallory, also a Democrat. The vote showed unions are still a potent political force that can't be ignored.

From left to right: Mike Hoffman, Camille Waller, Lori Warren, Region III Director Don Opatka, UWUA Local 600 President Jim Anderson

In Solidarity,
Jim Anderson
President
UWUA Local 600