Thousands of union protesters and Tea Party activists jammed the Ohio Statehouse Thursday as senators gathered to hear additional testimony on controversial Senate Bill 5.
There were many representing both sides, and both were very vocal and very emotional.
The demonstrations were peaceful, but loud and boisterous. Members of the Ohio Education Association were chanting that "teachers are united and will never be defeated" and accusing Tea Party members of "hating children, firefighters and policemen."
Former Gov. Ted Strickland even attended. He was greeted with loud cheers by union members.
Tea Party backers were chanting that they are defending taxpayers. They said they support the bill.
"We think it is very important," said Rick Burkholber, a bill supporter. "Ohio is going broke. We need to do some cuts somewhere."
The bill, as it is proposed by Sen. Sharon Jones, R-7th District, would strip public employees of collective bargaining rights and weaken binding arbitration for police and firefighters.
Sen. Capri Cafaro, D-32nd District, who is against the bill, said about 40 witnesses, including those against and those for the bill, were expected to testify at Thursday's hearing.
Ohio is facing an $8 billion deficit.
Gov. John Kasich said labor costs must be reined in. He's expressed his support for the bill in concept, but he also has signaled he might offer his own plan that could go even further, including banning public employee strikes.
"This is nothing more than a tool to provide the flexibility to the people who run our schools and our cities to be in a position to manage just like a business does, and I think it is entirely appropriate," he said.
Union members said they view the bill as an attack on the working class.
"Number one, we are taxpayer,s and since when did becoming a union, did unions become enemies of the state," said Kenneth Rawls. "We are not enemies of the state. We are taxpayers, and we came here to let everyone know that."
A few hundred firefighters and police from the Mahoning Valley joined those voicing their displeasure with the bill.
"If we take the right away from them to negotiate on wages and health care, we directly cut a hole in our local economy," said Cafaro.
Jones said she believes the bill is critically important for the long-term prosperity of the state.
The hearings are expected to continue next week. The governor said he believes the bill in some form will ultimately pass.
Thursday's chaotic scene is similar to one on Tuesday when union members were at the statehouse to protest the bill, which they say wipes out collective bargaining and weakens arbitration for safety worker unions.
Dozens of union members from the Mahoning Valley made the trip on Tuesday.
