YOUNGSTOWN — Nearly 200 people showed up this afternoon in the city’s downtown to protest against the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber's support of the controversial Ohio Senate Bill 5, which would limit collective-bargaining rights for public workers.
More protesters were still coming to join in the demonstration near the chamber’s headquarters on Central Federal Street.
Protesters carried several signs that read “Stop the war on workers” and chanting “Who’s got to go; Humphries has got to go!”
Tom Humphries is the chamber’s president and chief executive officer. The chamber’s board of directors, earlier this month, voted to support the bill.
For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com
Comments
I had to go to work to make a living or I would NOT have gone!
Let's vote on this!
Do any of these people work that are protesting OR is that their job??
I think the greater issue is that a chamber of commerce should be neutral.
They probably called off work using one of their many sick days.
Seriously? "Know one?" You can't make a case for an opinion if you can't articulate it!! The Chamber should remain neutral.
Democrats and Unions have done an excellent job for the valley!
geromajor, that's great, but the one party rule/union team has devasted this area as a whole.
Why should the Chamber remain neutral? It's their job to promote business,just like the unions promote workers and workers rights. If a business is looking to locate in a particular area most will call the Chamber of Commrece to ask questions and want honest answers. They're not going to call the Local Union Hall for an honest appraisal of the labor climate. If the Chamber is going to hook up with the Union,why do we need the Chamber? IMHO,it's just the unions being what they are. A group of bullies and intimidators that have to act as a group to use radical tactics to get their way. Call it negotiating,but there's better ways to prove your point and if they don't get their own way, they create havoc until they do. There's a need for unions,I just dislike their tactics. Just like the study a few years ago why businesses don't locate here(this study was swept under the carpet),the Chamber knows what it needs to know.
Even before the economy tanked, this area, and most of northeast Ohio, has suffered economically because of the policital leaders (as you mentioned) and unions which protected bad employees and created inefficiencies. I have been apart of two plant closings and I can tell you that labor created many of the problems, along with regulations involving the EPA.
The demise of this area started long before the poor economy in the last few years. Why is it that the Valley is among regional areas that is leading the state in unemployment year after year?
I will say that the UAW got the opportunity to see the light and make the changes for GM to be competitive, and hopefully other unions will follow as well.
Now the problem lies in getting rid of jokers such as Betras and Hagan, and get away from a one political party rule.
It will take allot to repair the damage to the Valleys image. There are still too many that either refuse to change, or cannot adapt to the changing world to be competitive.
Rocky,are you for real? Jeffery Immelt the CEO of GE is Obama's right hand man! Is your username have anything to do with the ingredients between your ears?
geromajor,and Hagan,Schaivoni and Obama are in the union's back pocket. As is probably every democrat politician. They can't make it unto the ticket as a democrat unless the union endorses them,and then ruins the opponent. And of course people here want to work,it's just that businesses don't want to locate here,despite the best efforts of the Chamber.
The unions run out businesses (Nemenz in Hubbard), make it hard to start another (Waffle House), and intimidate by boycotts or threat of radical tactics if you don't agree with them. Why would you or anybody want to start a business in this area?