Scenes from SB5 Protest in Columbus

What happens when over 4000 Ohioans protest right-wing attacks on labor, students, and families? See for yourself:

Special kudos to the folks who made the bus :)

Way to Go, Wisconsin

As Ohio State Senators debate Senate Bill 5, which would strip public employees of collective bargaining rights in their unions, Wisconsin's protests have been as loud and vibrant as ours need to be. Workers packed the Capitol building last week (read about it here), and we're going to have to keep it up.

Tuesday the 22nd is expected to be the last day for debate. Protesters will be gathering at the Statehouse at 1pm tomorrow for the hearing at 3:30. Be there! The resistance to this bill probably will make Kasich think twice about what cuts he proposes in his budget next month. Let's give him plenty to think about.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127973343942048

Take a look at this music video from the Wisconsin protests:

A cold reception for Kasich

COLUMBUS, Ohio--John Kasich became Ohio's new governor on January 10. But before he was even sworn in, he was met with resistance from the Defend Ohio Campaign, which held a protest outside the statehouse during a pre-inauguration celebration. Approximately 150 people from around the state participated in a march downtown.

It was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and protesters chanted, "I don't know but I've been told, Kasich's heart is mighty cold!" They were referring to the steep budget cuts he's proposed, including 20 percent or more from education, even though the state already does not fund public education to the level required by law.

Speakers included Jobs With Justice organizer Deb Steele, Rev. Eric Brown, former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Bob Fitrakis, Pat O'Connell of Free the Planet at Ohio State University, Bob Parks of the Ohio State Labor Party, environmental justice advocate Elisa Young, and community activist Ruben Castilla Herrera.

During a brief speech, Cincinnati teacher Dan LaBotz, who ran as a Socialist Party candidate for one of Ohio's U.S. Senate seats last November, summed up the situation: "How many people here like the public library? How many went to public schools? How many people use the public parks? Any of you drink the water from the public water works? Did you drive here on the public highway?"

Each question was answered with raised hands and affirmations. He continued, "They want to sell all of those things! They want to sell them off and get rid of the public employees, who are union members."

Kasich's attempt to blame public employees and funding of public services like education and Medicare for Ohio's budget deficit simply don't add up. Ohio's budget has to be viewed in the context of the national crisis, whether Kasich wants to or not. Unemployment and foreclosures mean less payroll and real estate taxes are being collected.

Kasich's refusal to accept federal aid and money to develop a passenger rail system between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati--which would help create jobs--flies in the face of his goal to balance the budget.
What he's really after is using the recession to further a conservative agenda that cuts health care and education, guts unions, and bleeds the state dry. This is what it means to be more "business friendly."

If Saturday's protest is any indication, Kasich will be met with resistance every step of the way.

www.socialistworker.org

RALLY to Stop Kasich Before He Gets Started!

Governor-elect Kasich has promised cuts throughout the State of Ohio, the same type of austerity agenda that has deepened the economic crises throughout Europe. He wants to force the working class to pay for the financial catastrophe caused by rich bankers and speculators. Politicians like Kasich are using the national recession as a pretext for gutting social services like education and Medicaid and driving down public employee wages. Working people already are having a more difficult time than usual making ends meet, with the official unemployment rate around 10%.

We're going to have to fight Kasich every step of the way on this, and we're starting January 8th to send him a message right before he takes office. There will be a rally in Columbus followed by a march to the Statehouse. Go check out http://defendohiocampaign.com/ for the latest information. There's also a link to join the Defend Ohio Campaign. Please forward the call throughout the State and contact your local ISO branch to see about carpooling.

Cincinnati ISO blog is back!

The site is now under construction, so it looks a bit bare at the moment, but we intend to make good use of it. This will be a universal focal point to get information out to people who are not on Facebook or Google. Expect to find plans for local events, national and local news stories, articles written by ISO members and others, and plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Our first meeting of 2011 will be on the 4th (a Tuesday) at 7pm in Swift 619 at UC. We'll be talking about our plans for the quarter, including a campus debate and bringing Sherry Wolf. There's also a rally sponsored by the Defend Ohio Campaign that will take place in Columbus on the 8th. This will focus on fighting against Kasich's right-wing agenda of massive cuts in the public sector and services (like education and health care) that people need.

If you're on Facebook please RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162944330415727