Stow Firefighter Union Representatives Protesting SB5 in Columbus

Thousands of union members and representatives are flocking to Columbus because of a proposal which could eliminate collective bargaining and binding arbitration for unions in Ohio.

The bill passed in the Ohio Senate March 2 and the bill now moves on to the Ohio House of Representatives.

Mark Hodson President of the Stow Firefighters International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1662 and union members have traveled down to Columbus on four different occasions already. Local 1662 is also a member of the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters. The OAPFF represents about 10,000 union Ohio employees.

"On the local level, our members have been contacting our State Senators to tell them exactly how negatively SB5 would affect not only the firefighters, but all the safety forces, teachers and other public unions throughout our state," said Hodson.

Many Republican representatives are in favor of the bill because of its potential to help lessen the state's $8 million deficit.

"We often hear that the bill will help Ohio balance its budget," said Hodson. "But Senate Bill 5 does little or nothing to help fix Ohio’s budget crisis. It seems that the budget is being used as an excuse ... it could even be said that this bill is nothing than an attempt to break the unions."

When presenting his case to the Senate Committee in Columbus, OAPFF President Mark Sanders said, "As with any law that has been on the books for decades, a review may be justified. We do not object to transparency in the system, so long as the transparency is equally applied."

Sanders, who is also a lieutenant at the Cincinnati Fire Department, said "It is our fear that this legislation will destroy 27 years of public safety labor peace."

Senate Bill 5 is proposing changes to laws "concerning public employees, including collective bargaining, salary schedules and compensation, layoff procedures, and leave."

"Collective bargaining has been the only means for firefighters to gain safety standards," said Sanders. "Without the ability to bargain for safety, the firefighters will have no means to ensure that they are provided with the equipment and staffing levels we need to protect citizens and perform our duties."