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In Ohio, law enforcement continues to revolt against anti-worker GOP

Many police and firefighters organizations have been consistently supported Republicans over the years. But with the recent assault on workers’ rights, particularly the passage of the Gov. John Kasich’s radical Senate Bill 5 in Ohio, many of those faithful GOP voters are changing their tune.

The recent actions of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police are emblematic of this trend. Over the weekend, the state’s largest law enforcement organization voted to retract the endorsement of state Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro), who voted to strip collective bargaining rights from police officers this past March.

Quick review on SB 5: The bill removed collective bargaining rights from 350,000 public employees in Ohio. Unlike a similar measure in Wisconsin, the Ohio version does not exempt public safety workers. In other words, the bill says that officers who risk their lives daily can’t bargain with the state over better healthcare, sick time, or pension benefits.

That’s why the Ohio FOP, which represents over 26,000 police officers, was none too pleased when Sen. Jones voted for SB 5. After all, Jones had sought the endorsement of the Ohio FOP during a primary race last year. The group’s President, Jay McDonald, said his members felt betrayed after extending their support to Jones. “These are not things we’re looking to hand out,” McDonald said about the group’s endorsements, “These are things that people seek.”

Not only is the group taking back its endorsements, they are joining with other statewide organizations to take on SB 5 head on. The Ohio FOP and other statewide unions and progressive groups are coming together under the banner of We Are Ohio, and their main goal right now is to get SB 5 on the ballot for a referendum. Both the OAPF and the OEA have approved dues increases to raise money to fight SB 5.

Even just six months ago, the Ohio FOP would balk from this kind of action, since they endorse officials of both parties. But since the Ohio Republicans decided to focus on stripping their rights instead of, say, putting people back to work, the anger of local lodges and thousands of members has galvanized the FOP into unified action.

Gov. Kasich and his allies aren’t only making a lot of enemies over SB 5, they’re also losing a lot of friends.