Did union fight cost Romney?

Did Republican governors in picking a fight with unions in Ohio and Wisconsin cost Romney the election? The unions think so.

Round 2

Despite the rebuke Ohio voters gave to Gov. Kasich's effort to restrict public sector collective bargaining, a conservative group with Tea Party roots has announced its intent to try to make Ohio a right to work state through a 2012 ballot initiative.

Rejected

Ohio Governor John Kasich made passage of Senate Bill 5 (his signature law restricting public sector employees collective bargaining rights and the right to strike) his first priority after the Republican sweep in the 2010 elections. The reaction by labor and its allies has been swift and overwhelming. They gathered almost a million signatures to place a referendum on the ballot. Yesterday the repeal referendum (in which a yes vote was a vote for SB 5) was defeated resoundingly. Governor Kasich seems to understand.

Ohio collective bargaining law jeopardized

This fall's election cycle has little of note (unless you think Gov. Jindal's 66% win is underwhelming against a field of under financed, under knowns). There is one contest in Ohio, however, that is worth noting. Its the attempt to undo Gov. Kasich's limits on collective bargaining rights for public employees in the state. Current polling has the repeal forces optimistic. This election is seen as a harbinger of the 2012 presidential race in a crucial state.

Payback!

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed Executive Orders permitting independent home health providers and self-employed child care workers to unionize, the SEIU and AFSCME benefited with thousands of new dues paying members. Strickland has directly benefited from the labor organizations political contributions.

Unionized plant closing

Unionized clothing manufacturer Hugo Boss is closing its Cleveland, Ohio plant. The move will put 300+ Workers United/SEIU workers on the street.