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Kasich says collective bargaining is bankrupting Ohio's cities

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COLUMBUS - Ohio Governor-elect John Kasich has told an Ohio newspaper that dismantling Ohio's collective bargaining law would be a good step for the state, saying that salary disputes for police and fire departments are bankrupting Ohio's cities. 
"I really don't favor the right to strike by any public employee. If they want to strike they should be fired," Kasich said last week, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "They've got good jobs, they've got high pay, they get good benefits, a great retirement. What are they striking for?"
The newspaper stated that "In particular, Kasich is going after binding arbitration rules often used to settle police and fire department salary and benefits disputes that he says are costly and bankrupting cities. That in turn drives up the state's share of funding for local government budgets."
"You are forcing increased taxes on taxpayers with them having no say," Kasich said, according to The Plain Dealer. "Let the people vote, OK, there's another alternative. We'll come up with a series of changes. But binding arbitration is not acceptable."
In response to Kasich's comments on collective bargaining, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern released the following statement: “By attacking collective bargaining, Gov.-elect Kasich wants to turn back the clock 25 years on working people in Ohio. His plans are devastating to the hardworking men and women who teach our children, keep us safe and provide other vital services to our communities throughout the state. John Kasich of all people should understand the consequences of his anti-working families agenda, since he grew up as the son of a public sector union member who benefited from collective bargaining,"
The newspaper reported  that "Labor groups say the (collective bargaining) law, in addition to winning better pay and benefits for its members, has also created a better working environment for management, too, with fewer work stoppages and disagreements. The same rules can also apply for city school teachers, though they, unlike police and fire officials, can go on strike. Kasich said the current collective bargaining rules can bankrupt cities that have to turn to the state to help bail them out."
COLUMBUS - Ohio Governor-elect John Kasich has told an Ohio newspaper that dismantling Ohio's collective bargaining law would be a good step for the state, saying that salary disputes for police and fire departments are bankrupting Ohio's cities. 
"I really don't favor the right to strike by any public employee. If they want to strike they should be fired," Kasich said last week, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "They've got good jobs, they've got high pay, they get good benefits, a great retirement. What are they striking for?"
The newspaper stated that "In particular, Kasich is going after binding arbitration rules often used to settle police and fire department salary and benefits disputes that he says are costly and bankrupting cities. That in turn drives up the state's share of funding for local government budgets."
"You are forcing increased taxes on taxpayers with them having no say," Kasich said, according to The Plain Dealer. "Let the people vote, OK, there's another alternative. We'll come up with a series of changes. But binding arbitration is not acceptable."
In response to Kasich's comments on collective bargaining, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern released the following statement: “By attacking collective bargaining, Gov.-elect Kasich wants to turn back the clock 25 years on working people in Ohio. His plans are devastating to the hardworking men and women who teach our children, keep us safe and provide other vital services to our communities throughout the state. John Kasich of all people should understand the consequences of his anti-working families agenda, since he grew up as the son of a public sector union member who benefited from collective bargaining,"
The newspaper reported  that "Labor groups say the (collective bargaining) law, in addition to winning better pay and benefits for its members, has also created a better working environment for management, too, with fewer work stoppages and disagreements. The same rules can also apply for city school teachers, though they, unlike police and fire officials, can go on strike. Kasich said the current collective bargaining rules can bankrupt cities that have to turn to the state to help bail them out."
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