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Edited on Tue Feb-22-11 01:21 PM by samplegirl
Groups prepare to protest Kasich visit
February 22, 2011 - By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY Tribune Chronicle
I KNOW TWO D.U.ers who will be there no matter what! He's trying to slide in and out just long enough to meet with the Chamber!
HOWLAND - Saying their jobs ''are under attack,'' local members of organized labor unions were in the planning stages Monday of a demonstration that could land them in the governor's face when he is scheduled to speak here later this week.
A flyer from the Mahoning/Trumbull AFL-CIO Labor Council urged followers to assemble at 10 a.m. Thursday at the former IGA grocery store plaza, 5200 E. Market St., Warren, in advance of Gov. John Kasich's planned noon appearance that day at nearby Leo's Restaurant in Howland.
Details were to be worked out at an organizational meeting at 6 p.m. today at United Steelworkers union hall, 684 North Park Ave., in Warren.
United Steelworkers sub-District 1 Director Gary Steinbeck said unions are girding to fight Kasich's efforts to dismantle collective bargaining agreements for state public employees, saying Kasich next ''will come after the private sector.''
A local Facebook posting invited people to meet at the Steelworkers union hall to make signs for Thursday's event here.
''It looks like a grassroots type of organization,'' said Cindy Michaels, a staff representative for the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees union. ''Our jobs are under attack.''
Kasich is supporting a Republican-led effort to pass Ohio Senate Bill 5, which would effectively take away collective bargaining rights from Ohio's 42,000 state government workers and nearly 20,000 employed in higher education. Kasich has said the bill's passage is needed to cut spending in the state budget.
In first address to the Mahoning Valley's business community, Kasich is expected to discuss his vision for restoring Ohio's competitiveness, including his JobsOhio plan, according to a news release from the chamber.
But the governor last week canceled plans to speak at a similar event in St. Clairsville today. Teachers and other union members had reportedly planned to stage a protest against SB 5 in St. Clairsville today, when Kasich was in town. Friday, the governor's office called the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce - which set up the event for Kasich's office - to ''postpone'' the event, citing ''an unforeseen change'' in the governor's schedule.
Union representatives in Belmont County said they still plan to let their voices be heard, regardless of whether the governor is in St. Clairsville or Columbus.
Locally, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber ''so far is still moving forward'' with plans to host Kasich at the luncheon at Leo's Ristorante in Howland, according to Kim Gonda, the chamber's vice president of marketing and business services.
She said chamber officials have heard rumors of what could happen, adding officials have talked with Howland police and the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office ''to try to ensure the safety of all guests.'' They declined to release any type of details or security measures that were discussed.
Attempts to reach Howland police Chief Paul Monroe on Monday, a holiday, were not immediately successful.
Monday, union members gathered at Youngstown State University for a rally in opposition to the bill. Mahoning County Democratic Chairman David Betras, state Rep. Bob Hagan and several members of local unions urged opponents of the bill to meet at Leo's to show their displeasure. Opponents also will meet at the Reef Restaurant, 5000 E. Market St., Warren, and will drive over to the rally.
"I say all of us go to Leo's at 11 o'clock and let him know that we are going to kill this bill," Betras said.
Last week, large crowds gathered at the Statehouse in Columbus to demonstrate for and against the measure.
Tribune Chronicle reporters Larry Ringler and Adam Ferrise contributed to this story.
cbobby@tribtoday.com
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