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History of public employee collective bargaining in Ohio

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Updated 9:46 AM Sunday, September 18, 2011

1947: Hagerman v. Dayton — Ohio Supreme Court rules that local governments could not permit voluntary deduction of union dues from employees’ paychecks; declares municipal contracts improper delegation of governmental authority.

Ferguson Act: Bans public employee strikes and provides for dismissal of strikers.

1958: Voters reject right-to-work initiative, which would have prohibited adoption of union contracts that set union membership as condition of employment.

1959: Legislature authorizes union dues checkoff for public employees, overturning that part of 1947 Hagerman ruling.

1960s: By 1968, all major cities — Dayton, Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Youngstown — have signed contracts with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) despite 1947 Hagerman ruling that municipal contracts were improper delegation of authority.

Ferguson Act penalties invoked in a few rare cases.

1975: Dayton Classroom Teachers Association v. Dayton Board of Education — Ohio Supreme Court rules that school boards had authority to bargain with their employees and that any contract — including a promise to submit grievances to binding arbitration — would be enforceable by court.

Republican Gov. James A. Rhodes vetoes public sector bargaining bill that covered all Ohio public employees.

1977: Rhodes vetoes second public sector bargaining bill passed by legislature; veto comes shortly after strike by firefighters in Dayton.

1983: Democrats gain control of both House and Senate and governor’s office; Gov. Richard F. Celeste signs legislation authorizing collective bargaining by public employees.

2011: GOP-controlled General Assembly passes Senate Bill 5. Gov. John Kasich signs it in to law on March 31 but a coalition of unions file petitions signed by nearly 1.3 million Ohioans to put it up for a referendum vote in November.

Sources: Public Sector Bargaining Laws Really Matter: Evidence from Ohio and Illinois, author Gregory M. Saltzman, chapter in book When Public Sector Workers Unionize, and The Ohio Politics Almanac

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