Thursday SB 5 Hearing... A CORE MEMBER ATTENDS AND HERE IS WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.......

Nancy Hamant to John Curry, February 16, 2011
Subject: Fwd: Thursday SB 5 Hearing....

John,

Bill and I attended Tuesday's SB 5 hearing. There must have been 2000 attendees--mainly Ohio firefighters. Only about 50 people were permitted in the South Hearing room. All others had to listen in the atriums. Tuesday only permitted those in favor to speak. Thursday hearing was supposed to be for opponents, but one email that I read said that proponents were going to continue, then opponents. So opponents may never be heard.

Also, the crowd was under control by the Highway Patrol, which even had a police dog up on the balcony. Folks could not hold up signs and were warned about prolonged yelling and jeering.

I think to continue to sit in the Atriums when the press appears to be overly "friendly" to both Shannon Jones and Gov. Kasich is a waste of time. I think that contingents of AFLCIO folks need to cross the street to the Riffe Tower and politely present their individual cases to the Ohio legislators who are not attending the hearing.

Particularly important would be the sharing of how Ohio families are being kept afloat during this terrible economic downturn--only through public worker and union worker wages.

Stressing how passage of SB5 will only exacerbate Ohio's economic problems is most important. Ohio cannot pass a SB5 which will continue to destroy Ohio's middle class.

Nancy Hamant
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From John Curry, February 16, 2011
Subject: the CEA [Columbus] put this one out........

Senate Bill 5, introduced by Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro), proposed to end collective bargaining for sate and higher education employees and drastically curtail bargaining rights for K-12 educators. Ohio’s educators and working families are aggressively opposing this bill.

OEA and other labor unions from around the state are going to hold rallies at the State House on Tuesday and Thursday of this week. Consider attending one of these rallies. Unfortunately, CEA does not have enough Association Leave to give you the opportunity to attend. You would have to use a personal day. Remember, your financial future is at stake.

TUESDAY, FEB. 15 Testimony by proponents of HB 5 begins at 2:30 p.m.

...• Meet at OEA at 1:30 to march over to the state house.

...• Signs & Buttons will be available.

...• Wear an association shirt or your school shirt.

...• Bring a lawn chair – it is unlikely due to the number of people expected that we will actually make it into the hearing room.

...• The Tea Party is going to be there in force to support this bill – they are wearing red. Choose you attire accordingly. Do not wear red!

Thursday, FEB 17 Testimony by opponents of HB 5 begins at 10 a.m.

...• Meet at OEA at 9:00 a.m. to march over to the state house

...• Signs & Buttons will be available.

...• Wear an association shirt or your school shirt.

...• Bring a lawn chair and pack a lunch (it could be a long day)

...• The Tea Party has chartered 28 buses for this rally – they will be wearing red. Do not wear red!

CEA-R members please consider attending one of these rallies.