Bowling Green State University graduate students and others rallied Thursday to protest Wednesday’s Ohio
Senate action to restrict collective bargaining rights for an estimated 350,000 public employees.
Gathering at noon in the “free speech zone” near the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, an estimated 250
people rallied while hundreds of others passed through and around the area on their way to classes,
offices, residence halls or lunch. The rally lasted a little over one hour.
Senators passed the bill 17-16 and protestors all but conceded that a 59-40 Republican majority in the
Ohio House means the measure is eventually headed to the desk of Gov. John Kasich.
“The economic and budget problems are not our fault,” said graduate student Martin Otto Zimmann. “They
are trying to shift the blame from Wall Street onto Main Street.”
Dr. David Jackson, president of the BGSU Faculty Union Association, told the gathering that SB5
effectively overturns the democratic election of faculty members last fall to form a union on campus.
“That vote was 57 percent to 43. This overturns the people’s vote.”
Jackson said he expects Ohioans will face a referendum on the issue on the November ballot if SB5 becomes
law. “This is the first round of a 10-round battle. There is a long way to go.”
Faculty member Dr. Michael Zickar, also head of the Wood County Democratic Party, said he was disturbed
by an e-mail circulating on campus Thursday morning supporting SB5 and claiming that Kasich was elected
with “a very clear mandate.” Zickar said the margin was 49-47 percent. “I guarantee you that if Kasich
and the Republicans had campaigned on this agenda they would have gone down in flames.” Zickar said the
state has budget problems “but SB5 shows that ideology is more important than the budget.”
Graduate student Scott Sundvall led the group in chants — “Public education is under attack, stand up,
fight back” and “The working class is under attack, stand up, fight back.”
Attendees carried a variety of signs, both handmade (the majority) and professionally printed.
Among the messages were “SB5 harms families, hurts communities,” “ Weed Randy Gardner,” Bust Bankers
Benefits,” and “SB5 = Education Death Penalty.” One person walked around the perimeter of the group with
a sign reading “Support SB5” on one side and “Unions must go” on the flip side.
Other unions had representatives in attendance, including several representing trade groups.