The Rise and Fall of SB-5 : The Rejection of an Anti-Union Law in Historical and Political Context

This symposium piece was written around the time that Ohio voters were deciding whether or not to reject (in a voter referendum) SB-5, a bill greatly limiting the rights of public-sector unions in Ohio. The article argues that SB-5 was a flawed and misguided law, enacted for partisan purposes. The law was part of a broader trend starting in 2011 and continuing of attempts by certain political factions to limit or eliminate public-sector collective bargaining rights. The voters of Ohio rejected SB-5, but debates over these issues remain. The paper argues thatSB-5 and similar laws are not about government budgets, nor are they about improving public-sector collective bargaining or public services. In short, these laws do not accomplish the goals that proponents claim they will: rather, they will silence the voices of workers on the job and hurt the middle class