Ten rank and file members of Local 13 and Local 13 Allied Division joined the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor on November 2, 2011 for a 5-day get out the vote campaign in Columbus Ohio to help defeat the anti-union Senate Bill 5/Issue 2.
Over 90 Southern California union members from over 40 unions traveled to Columbus, Ohio to assist in defeating ballot measure, “Issue 2,” which would have upheld a controversial state law restricting collective bargaining rights for public sector workers. The measure was soundly defeated, overturning the controversial anti-union legislation, SB 5, passed in Ohio earlier this year.
We knocked on doors and reminded people to get out and vote on Election Day. But more importantly, we talked about the negative impact that Issue 2 would have had—not only for Ohio—but also for all workers in America.
We explained that voting down Issue 2 would repeal Senate Bill 5, and would restore the rights for the public unions of Ohio to collectively bargain. My group included two other brothers from the ILWU. We knocked on over 280 doors and got 99% positive feedback. Only one person we talked to said they would support Issue 2. You can’t change everyone’s mind but those
that were on the fence were quickly brought to the side that supports the middle class. It is not the fault of workers that America is suffering huge
unemployment rates and the biggest recession in decades. The politicians need to stop blaming us for the problems that their friends on Wall Street created.
When people asked us why we came from California to Ohio to fight Issue 2, we told them that the motto of the ILWU was “An Injury to one is an injury to all.” Had this bill passed in Ohio, it would have hurt workers nationwide by undermining collective bargaining rights. We went to Ohio because it is not
okay to stand silently by while Ohio Gov. Kasich makes appalling statements that he “wants to break the backs of unions.” Anyone, no matter what part of
America they live in, is going get the support of the ILWU against people who think they can bully around the working class.
One of our union brothers, Ray Montoya, knocked on a school teacher’s door. She thanked him for coming to her door and talking to her about Issue 2. Once she found out he was from California, she gave him a huge bear hug.
That’s why we went to Ohio. Because knocking on doors matters more than a Koch Brothers polished advertisement.
– Luke Hollingsworth