For Unions, the Only Silver Lining in Ohio Bill Disappears

Academic labor groups were horrified by the bill passed by the Ohio Senate this month, effectively denying collective bargaining rights to faculty members in the state, which has many unionized campuses. But some saw a little bit of a silver lining in that the text of the bill that circulated at the time suggested that the legislation would end state bans on collective bargaining by part-time faculty members or graduate students. It turns out, however, that those bans would stay in place. A final version of the bill that the Senate passed includes those restrictions -- suggesting that everyone who teaches at public colleges and universities would be barred from collective bargaining if the bill becomes law.