AFL-CIO President Carrigan: Ohio election results a clear win for working families

(Statement from Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan)

 

In Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and across the country, including here in Illinois, working families want to see politicians do the jobs they were elected to do – to build an economy that restores balance and creates jobs instead of one that works only for CEO’s and special interest groups.

Yesterday (Tuesday), Ohioans resoundingly vetoed legislation that would have taken collective bargaining rights away from teachers, firefighters and first responders – sending a strong message that politicians need to stand with working families and stand for building a strong middle class.

They marched to the polls to demand politicians like Ohio Gov. John Kasich stop his partisan agenda. And voters rejected the crazy notion that the 99 percent – nurses, bridge inspectors, firefighters, and social workers – caused the economic collapse, rather than Wall Street. Despite untold millions of dollars dumped into Ohio by shady special interest groups, the voters spoke out loud and clear.

This election should be a wake-up call for Illinois about what happens when politicians go too far. Voters in Illinois want to see action that creates jobs and creates an economy that works for everyone. We can start heading in the right direction by passing legislation like a federal jobs bills that will repair bridges and roads and get Illinoisans back to work.

Our elected officials need to focus on creating jobs in order to get our economy back on track. Together we can create an economy that works for the 99 percent.