[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H1401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Fudge) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition 
to attempts by the Republican Governor of Ohio to undermine collective 
bargaining for Ohio's public employees.
  Ohio Senate bill 5 is a measure currently under consideration by the 
Ohio General Assembly that would strip State workers of collective 
bargaining rights. I firmly support the right of public employees to 
collectively negotiate. Who are we as a Nation when we tell our 
firefighters and our police officers and other public protectors that 
they should have no say in their working conditions? Does a teacher's 
experience or education have no economic value? Ohio's proposed 
legislation is less about fiscal responsibility than an overt political 
attack on public workers who speak with a collective voice.
  As labor battles erupt in State capitals around the Nation, a 
majority of Americans say they oppose efforts to weaken the collective 
bargaining rights of public employee unions. According to the latest 
New York Times/CBS News poll, Americans are against cutting the pay or 
benefits of public workers to reduce State budget deficits.
  We shouldn't forget, Mr. Speaker, the benefits that collective 
bargaining offers. For almost 28 years, collective bargaining has 
reduced labor strife, it has reduced the likelihood of strikes, 
improved training and productivity among public employees, created a 
sense of job security, and it is fair. It is fair to all working 
people.
  The repeal of collective bargaining will do nothing to balance the 
budget. Nine percent of the State's budget is for State employees. So 
just as an example, if we fired every State employee in Ohio, it would 
save us only $2 billion, leaving the State without vital services, and 
there would still be a $6 billion deficit. Since this does not address 
the budget deficit, it is clear that anti-worker forces are using this 
to harm middle-income workers and to kill jobs.
  I would like to share a observation with you that was from a former 
President of the United States, and I quote:
  ``Republicans stand foursquare for the American home--but not for 
housing. They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for 
restricting labor's rights. They favor minimum wage--the smaller the 
minimum wage, the better. They endorse educational opportunity for 
all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools. They think 
modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford 
them. That is the philosophy of the masters of the Republican Party.''
  These are the words of President Harry Truman, and they were spoken 
in 1948. These words ring as true today as they did in 1948. We have 
made too many advances over the past generations, and Americans should 
not be forced to choose between a job and their rights.
  We cannot and should not return to the days when public workers had 
limited rights to bargain. The middle class was created and has been 
sustained by collective bargaining and other labor protections. The 
public sector is about working families. Rolling back these rights will 
hurt the middle-income wage earners of this country and will hurt 
America.
  Ohio needs jobs, not a partisan victory. I urge members of the Ohio 
General Assembly to deliberate with care and avoid rushing to adopt a 
measure that weakens our middle class, weakens our State, and costs us 
jobs.

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