Senate Votes on Amended SB 5

The Ohio Legislature has passed Senate Bill 5.

The bill would limit collective bargaining rights for 350,000 public workers. The full house approved the measure late Wednesday afternoon on a 53-55 vote. Then later Wednesday night the Senate voted to approve the altered bill 17-16.

The measure affects safety workers, teachers and a host of other government personnel. It allows unions to negotiate wages but not health care, sick time or pension benefits.

It also does away with automatic pay increases in favor of merit raises.

Local State Representatives Troy Balderson and Andy Thompson voted in favor of the bill. Opponents have vowed to pursue a ballot repeal.