Two bills were heard in committee today before a packed room of labor supporters. According to Ohio House Democratic Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard, who supported the workers:
Hundreds descended on the Ohio Statehouse today as HJR 5 and HB 151 received their first hearing in the House Manufacturing and Workforce Development Committee. HB 151 is a bill that would hurt private sector employee’s ability to collectively bargain, and HJR 5 is a resolution to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to make Ohio a so-called “right to work” state.Committee Chairman Rep. Kirk Schuring said the decision was unanimous to table the measure:
I’ve surveyed the committee and for a wide variety of reasons, the committee has determined that it would not be appropriate to have additional hearings on the legislation.It's a sweet victory for now, but anti-worker extremists will not stop in their efforts to weaken workers' rights. We can expect No Rights at Work to rear its deceptive head in Ohio again in 2014 or 2015.
And remember, No Rights at Work wasn't on the agenda in Michigan last year ... until it suddenly was -- and rammed through the Legislature in a lame-duck session.
We must be ever vigilant.
