Issue 2 - Imperfect but Necessary

Senate Bill 5 and Issue 2 have nothing to do with Ohio's budget deficit. That issue was addressed in an already passed state budget. The intent of these  initiatives is to deal with budget issues facing local government entities including school systems, townships, villages and cities. Ohio has no more bail out money.  The hope is that Issue 2 will give the local governments the tools by which to better manage local finances.

Let's start with the police and firefighters. Notwithstanding Issue 2, they are not allowed to strike in Ohio. Under the current system, they enter into collective bargaining with their local government. If no agreement can be reached, then the matter is referred to binding arbitration conducted by an outside arbiter. The arbiter then makes a decision which is binding on the parties.

The problem is the arbiters, some of whom come from as far away as California, often decide the issues based on pay scales and salaries from parts of the country where the cost of living is substantially higher than here. The only thing the arbiters DON"T take into consideration is the ability of the local government entity to pay. So when recommendations are made, the local government entity has only two choices, lay off the safety forces at the expense of the less senior employees, or start an endless cycle of property tax levies or sales tax initiatives to get the money. At the end of the day, those are regressive taxes and hurt the poor and the elderly disproportionately. That is the Draconian choice Issue 2 eliminates. It leaves the ultimate decision on wages and benefits to the local government entity.

State university employees also use an arbitration process both for faculty and non-certified unions, but they can strike. YSU is notorious for this, and the end result is ALWAYS higher tuition to pay for what are disproportionate salaries of university professors. The argument is ALWAYS they can make more money elsewhere, and they could leave their jobs for higher pay in New York City. They won't leave though, if they can get New York City salaries and live in Youngstown where the cost of living is among the lowest in the nation. Those are the sweetheart deals Issue 2 wants to eliminate by outlawing strikes by university personnel.

Issue 2 also equalizes benefits for unionized state employees to the private sector.  It requires a minimum of 10% contribution to health care, and 15% to pension.  It also attempts to eliminate the undue burden placed on local governments for cash in pension bonuses from unused sick days and vacation days.  In the private sector, it is use it or lose it.  These types of pension bonuses cost the Cincinnati $93 million this year.  This has to stop.

Secondary schools are directly targeted by Issue 2, also eliminating the right of teachers to strike. But it goes further by ending tenure and salary increases based on longevity rather than teaching ability. This is the most controversial of the provisions. Being married to a teacher, I know about nepotism and favoritism played by local school boards. The popular line for Issue 2 proponents is that the teacher of the year can be laid off in favor of someone who has been there a long time. What they don't tell you is that the teacher of the year is probably a cheerleading coach, and hiring decisions by many school systems is based on what a teacher can coach rather than what a teacher can teach. Not to mention that person who gets a bur up his/her butt and runs for school board because Mrs. Jones gave little Johnny a C in English. Guess who is going to lose her job with no recourse? This is the problem part of Issue 2. Merit pay is a good idea, but in Issue 2 it is ill conceived and not well thought out.

The Plain Dealer, the Columbus Dispatch, and the Cincinnati Enquirer have all endorsed Issue 2, stating that it has its problems, but the issues facing local governments and school systems are critical and we are better off with it that without it.

I agree. While I have major problems with the tenure/seniority for primary school teachers found therein, the balance of the provisions are necessary and timely. My wife retires at the end of next year so she will not have to deal with those seniority provisions and the huge number of lawsuits that I see stemming from the "merit pay" provisions. If what I think is going to happen does happen, teachers will be striking notwithstanding as some of these goofy school boards start to throw their weight around. The law will be adjusted accordingly as the coming abuses begin to surface.

Finally, the main reason I support Issue 2 is that it gives public employees the right to opt out of mandatory withholding of union dues from their paychecks. Union bosses and political slush funds make those involved with big business look like a walk in the park. The abuses are many and well documented. Notwithstanding what the law currently says, unions take money from those who might have a different political view, and support left wing candidates directly and indirectly, not to mention liberal issues and causes including pro-choice and pro-illegal immigrant endeavors. In addition, in Ohio, 99% of all union political contributions go to Democratic candidates, who in turn repay the union by granting excessive pay raises and benefits. It is a racket in a vicious circle.

I am going to vote YES on Issue 2 on November 8.