Senate strips Statehouse employees of collective bargaining after picket over inmate labor

June 4, 2009 - Union activists wearing florescent yellow t-shirts with the words “Keep history in the right hands” recently staged a picket in downtown Columbus to protest a proposal to replace Statehouse workers with inmates. Approximately 20 OCSEA members who perform groundskeeping and custodial duties at the capitol building have been laid off there. Under a new proposal, felons would perform their jobs.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Statehouse employees' collective bargaining rights under attack

OCSEA members were joined by union leaders from around the state at the downtown “teach-in,” handing out fliers and collecting petition signatures over the lunch hour.

But in a recent development, now those same Statehouse employees could be losing their collective bargaining rights, too. In what appears to be retaliation for their protest, the Ohio Senate has decided to strip Statehouse employees of their collective bargaining rights by designating them employees under the legislative branch. Employees in that sector of government are not covered under Ohio’s collective bargaining law.

“We wanted decision makers and the public to know that it’s not acceptable to replace good union jobs in Ohio with inmate labor,” said OCSEA Secretary Treasurer Kathy Stewart who is also a member of the local Statehouse chapter. “And now Senate leaders are sending the message to Ohio’s working families that not only are they replaceable, but they’ll be punished if they stand up for their rights.”

“First we’re laid off. Then we’re replaced with inmates. Now our collective bargaining rights are stripped. What’s next?” said OCSEA President Eddie L Parks. “The Capitol Square employees have played by the rules and are tax-paying, law-abiding citizens. They deserve better than these attacks from our Senate leaders.”

While the negative attention the union has drawn to the inmate program has had some positive affects, including the recall of several laid off Statehouse employees, the proposal to use inmate labor at the capitol is still very much on the table.

“Now, not only will the union be fighting to keep state employees working at the Statehouse, but now we’ll have to fight to keep the union working for state employees,” said Parks.

OCSEA is demanding that all employees at the capitol remain represented under Ohio’s collective bargaining agreement and that all the laid off Statehouse employees be reinstated.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Statehouse employees' collective bargaining rights under attack

Send a letter to your senator demanding that these actions stop, and then invite your family and friends to do the same.

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