LABOR DAY IN NEW BOSTON AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

I wanted to take some time and talk about Labor Day. As we all know, it is celebrated the first Monday of each September. Here in Scioto County Labor Day is marked by the annual Riverdays festival and parade.

Labor Day pays tribute to America's work force. Created by the labor movement of the late 19th century, it became a federal holiday in 1894.

As we in New Boston know, and also unfortunately other towns throughout Ohio and the U.S., organized labor has taken a beating at the hands of corporate leaders, with companies being merged, closed or moved out of the country. What is left is huge empty buildings, parking lots with grass growing through the cracked concrete and countless people on unemployment, working two or more jobs, and relocating their families all over the country.

In the past year our current governor has tried hard to strip Collective Bargaining Rights from state and county employees, effectively eliminating teacher, nurse, police, fire, and other public service unions. Salaries and benefits will be determined by the state legislature and the governor.

As the governor of Wisconsin tried to bring the American Labor Movement to a complete end in his state, our governor is now trying the same in Ohio.

Here in Scioto County, already Governor Kasich has closed the Ohio River Valley Youth Detention Center in Franklin Furnance. He has eliminated over 300 state jobs from Scioto County alone, a county that ranks in the top five in unemployment in the state.

If Senate Bill 5 is not repealed, the remaining hopes for any type of quality salaried jobs, quality benefits and decent working conditions will be thrown to the wind in Ohio. The American Labor movement will once again have taken a huge blow.

As those of us in New Boston, Scioto County, and all of Ohio enjoy this Monday, we need to remember it is a gift to all of us working people from those who worked so hard for us. I urge all
voters in New Boston, Portsmouth, Scioto County and Ohio to remember the hard work those of the late 19th century did on our behalf and lets honor them by keeping their hard work alive for future generations of American Workers. Please vote to stop Governor Kasich and stop Senate Bill 5.

Mike Payton
9-5-11