As Ohio Governor Kasich prepares to give his State of State address, opponents of a bill that would cut most collective bargaining rights for public workers have mobilized. The bill would limit what issues workers could bargain on and do away with many rights of workers, including the right to strike. Opponents say that they hope to see thousands of people at rallies against the bill. Supporters of the bill say that they will also organize protests, but in support of the governor and against the unions and workers. The bill passed the state Senate last week, and while Republicans have a large majority in the Assembly, Democratic legislators say that they will add amendments and fight hard against the bill. The bill would affect around 350,000 public workers in Ohio.
See "Union protests preface Ohio gov's State of State", Julie Carr Smyth and Ann Sanner, Business Week, March 7, 2011