Union activists to stage rally in Dayton
Opponents to collective bargaining bill says it’s unfair to public workers.
Staff WritersUpdated 10:58 PM Friday, February 18, 2011
DAYTON — On the heels of demonstrations in Columbus and Wisconsin that have drawn thousands of union supporters, Dayton-area labor leaders are planning a regional rally of police, firefighters and teachers to oppose plans to cut the collective bargaining rights of public employees.
Union activists plan to rally outside the Dayton Convention Center downtown at 9:15 a.m. Monday, while state Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, hosts a town hall meeting inside.
“Stripping our collective bargaining rights strips our voices,” said David Romick, president of the 1,200-member Dayton Education Association.
The union rights of public employees have become hot-button issues in several states, including Ohio, as Republican governors and legislatures are seeking to control costs by eliminating or reducing workers’ ability to bargain collectively,
