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Ohio Education Association Opposes Senate Bill Five

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio Education Association (OEA) is gravely concerned that the Ohio Senate is not making Ohio's children a priority. In a tough economy and facing a major budget deficit, Ohio must focus on the essentials, and nothing is more essential than giving our children a quality education that prepares them for good jobs.

Sen. Shannon Jones' legislation, Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), proposes to drastically curtail collective bargaining rights, ban public employee strikes, end collectively bargained salary schedules for public employees. SB 5 targets all state workers and all Ohio higher education employees, including OEA members at Columbus State, Youngstown State and other public colleges and community colleges, as well as OEA's State Council of Professional Educators (SCOPE) bargaining unit whose members educate incarcerated adults and youths.

OEA believes collective bargaining helps educators pursue the classroom conditions, tools and support that contribute to the kind of high quality 21st century education essential to preparing students for jobs and successful careers.

Collective bargaining is a problem solving tool that shapes working conditions and improves learning conditions. Since 1983, Ohio's collective bargaining law has created a framework that has made strikes rare and short in duration. OEA affiliates negotiate effectively to avoid strikes and disruption for student learning.

Senate Bill 5 serves to weaken Ohio's entire middle class. Rather than creating jobs in Ohio, this legislation will hurt local communities stifling job growth.

The Ohio Education Association represents 130,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio's public schools, colleges and universities.

SOURCE Ohio Education Association