Preventing Ohio Issue 1 from passing remains a USW District 1 priority

Director of the United Steelworkers District 1, Donnie Blatt joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Ohio’s special election in August. Blatt also talked about the work the rapid response team is doing to educate registered voters and the cost to Ohio taxpayers to hold this special election.

USW District 1 covers Michigan and Ohio, and like other Ohio unions, they are working to educate registered voters on State Issue 1. If passed, Issue 1 would change the required vote approval for Ohio constitutional amendments from a simple majority vote to 60 percent approval. Blatt talked about past amendments that have been passed in Ohio, and only a few could pass the 60 percent approval threshold. It’s a direct attack on Ohioan’s democratic right, he said.

The USW District 1 rapid response team has been mobilized in the battle to educate registered voters on Issue 1. The efforts of the response team have been positive, Blatt said. However, they’re far from finished, as the early voting period continues and the Aug. 8 in-person vote approaches. Blatt discussed his experience at the polls on the opening day of early voting and his pleasant surprise at the turnout.

The special election in August is reported to cost Ohio taxpayers a total of $20 million. This extra cost to the taxpayers is one of the main reasons why these special elections were banned earlier in 2023, Blatt said. Meanwhile, Issue 1 is being supported by outside influences with deep pockets, he added. It feels like a double standard to vote on a bill that would raise the approval rate to 60 percent, but for the bill to be passed, it only requires a simple majority. Blatt added that if they can help prevent Issue 1 from passing, this will prevent workers’ rights from being stripped away in the future.

Listen to the entire episode to learn more.