Statement By NC State AFL-CIO President James Andrews On Ohio

NC State AFL-CIO,PO Box 10805,Raleigh,NC27605

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, Communications Director, 919-833-6678, [email protected];

STATEMENT BY NC STATE AFL-CIO PRESIDENT JAMES ANDREWS ON OHIO

Ohio election results a clear win for working families everywhere

Raleigh, N.C. – In Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and across the country, including here in North Carolina, 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 CEOs and special interest groups.

Yesterday, 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 for building a strong middle class.

They marched to the polls to demand politicians like Ohio Gov. John Kasich stop their 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 intoOhioby shady special interest groups, the voters spoke out loud and clear.

This election should be a wake-up call for Thom Tillis and Phil Berger about what happens when politicians go too far.  Voters in North Carolina want to see action that creates jobs and 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 deficient bridges and roads and get North Carolinians back to work.

Instead of trying – in Thom Tillis’ own words – to “divide and conquer the people” in pursuit of an extremist agenda, 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.

###