Investing in Public Workers Labor to the Polls 2016 Strong Infrastructure, Strong Economy

OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AFSCME LOCAL 11/AFL-CIO Volume 72, No. 4 • Fall 2016 Investing in public workers Labor to the polls 2016 STRONG infrastructure, STRONG economy, “World-class infrastructure is how we move goods across the country and how we export. It’s how we attract businesses and workers into Ohio. Supporting infrastructure projects secures existing jobs, creates new jobs, and keeps communities safe.” ~ Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown hile the debate have to cut corners, because In an article entitled, “Don’t our interstates, highways and isn’t whether we’re not in it for profit. It’s Lowball the Upside of Fixing bridges, can’t be overestimated. W policy makers good for the bulk, as they say,” Roads and Bridges,” author “…Transportation networks should invest in the country’s he said. Noah Smith says that the benefit aren’t like other forms of cap- infrastructure; most agree the Scholtz says the biggest obsta- of investing in even the most ital. They’re not like factories, investment needs to be made, cle he faces is crumbling infra- basic of infrastructure, like or machine tools or office whether it’s crumbling bridges structure. “We’re just keeping or a transportation system that our heads above water. Some hasn’t kept up with technology. roads and bridges are decades Rather, it’s a question about without repair,” he said. “Drastic what the policy framework action is required, not another “Where the should look like for our infra- Band-aid. Somebody needs to structure, where investments step up and do something, infrastructure need to be made and the role think outside the box. And it’s of government and the private going to be hard, for whoever is is, is where sector in those investments. elected, especially in this evolv- Errol Scholtz, an OCSEA ing world,” he said. the jobs are.” member who works as an Ohio Currently, Ohio’s road and Department of Transportation bridge repair is mostly funded ~Errol Scholtz Engineer 2 in northern Ohio, by the federal gas tax, which knows the benefits of investing has been at a fixed rate for 20 in our nation’s infrastructure years despite rising gas prices, and in the public employees inflation, and material and labor who do the work. costs. As a public sector engineer, One myth that’s kept politi- Scholtz works with local govern- cians from supporting gas tax ments to get transportation proj- increases to pay for improve- ects approved, rolling and up to ments is that it’s a bad move standard. This union leader with politically. But a recent study by Ashland Chapter 300 is new to the American Road and Trans- public service, but he’s learning portation Builders Association the benefits of public employee dispels the myth, saying voters experience and expertise for want leaders with solutions to the public good. “Our work is reduce traffic, improve safety continuous. We work until the and grow the economy—and job is completed instead of they’re willing to pay for it. getting it done quickly. We don’t 2 Public Employee Quarterly Fall 2016 buildings, because they have elements of what economists “Whether it’s expanding telecommunications consider a ‘public good,’” Smith or modernizing the outdated electric grid wrote. “This is something that the private sector, left to its own system, we must invest in infrastructure. devices, can’t or won’t provide enough of.” He continued that ~ Chris Cassady the government is a “big player in road- and bridge-building almost everywhere” and that Democratic Presidential there’s “almost certainly a reason candidate Hillary Clinton says for that.” her infrastructure plan will Ohio’s public employees invest $275 billion over five have a lot to gain from a serious years in a broad range of proj- investment in infrastructure, ects including highway, rail, sea, particularly a plan that values air, and broadband expansion. public workers and the eco- Her plan would establish an nomic benefits of investing in infrastructure bank that offers good, union, public-sector jobs. infrastructure loans to state and This includes those employees local governments and private keeping our roads safe, regu- investors. lating our utilities, maintaining “In my first 100 days as water and sewer treatment president, I will work with both plants and more. parties to pass a comprehensive “Where the infrastructure plan to create the next genera- is, is where the jobs are,” said tion of good jobs,” said the Scholtz. AFSCME-endorsed candidate. “It’s not just a question of Her plan would be funded investing in infrastructure, we by eliminating corporate tax also need policy makers who breaks. Hillary Clinton’s value public services and the Clinton’s opponent, Donald men and women who provide Trump has a plan that nearly infrastructure plan those services,” said Chris Cas- doubles her investment figures, sady, a compliance customer but how he plans to pay for it • Repair and expand our roads service representative with the is still a mystery. “It’s most cer- Public Utilities Commission of tain that the middle class and and bridges. Ohio. workers will feel the brunt of PUCO reps like Cassady his plan. One of the most signif- • Lower transportation costs and educate consumers about their icant beneficiaries of the Trump unlock economic opportunity by utility rights, hold utility compa- tax plan and any infrastructure nies accountable and advocate deals will be Trump’s own com- expanding public transit options. on behalf of smart infrastructure panies,” says OCSEA President investments. Christopher Mabe. If Trump • Connect all Americans to “Whether it’s expanding is worth what he says he is, his the Internet. telecommunications or modern- family stands to benefit to the izing the outdated electric grid tune of about $4 billion if his • Invest in building world-class system, we must invest in infra- tax plans are implemented, says American airports and modernize structure,” said Cassady. “PUCO CNN. makes sure that the public inter- “Clinton’s first economic our national airspace system. est is taken into consideration priority will be the biggest and that reliability, efficiency investment in good-paying jobs • Build energy infrastructure for and safety are first and foremost,” since World War II—with bold the 21st century by modernizing said Cassady. infrastructure projects, union These services will be invalu- apprenticeship and job training infrastructure like dams, levees, able if promises to invest in programs, and clean energy and wastewater systems. infrastructure are kept. jobs,” said Mabe. Fall 2016 Public Employee Quarterly 3 Standing with Hillary “It’s important for those in public service to support candidates like Hillary, who know the importance of government in people’s lives.” ~Matt Wittekind, Commerce Matt Wittekind or OCSEA Chapter “Even though she is vilified importance of government in 2501 Commerce on the other side, Clinton has a people’s lives,” he said. F member, Matt Witte- history of reaching across the Wittekind says he will work guaranteed win. We have to kind, supporting Hillary Clinton aisle to get things done,” said hard to engage in conversations work hard. We need to make for president is a no brainer. Wittekind about one of the rea- with people and paint clear sure we get people out there to Matt says he’s supported sons he has confidence in her distinctions between Hillary vote for her in November,” he Hillary since 2008 and has ability to be president. and her opponent. “It’s not a said. always admired her. “When I “As a member of the LGBT was a young college kid becom- community, I know many of my ing politically aware, she was friends in the community have a new kind of first lady. She always felt she has been fight- was tough, ruffled feathers, and ing for us. I think if you look didn’t back down from a fight,” at the groups that are strongly said Wittekind. backing Clinton, you see groups He describes her as much that come together to make the more qualified and says she fabric of American society,” said demonstrates a greater under- Wittekind. standing of how the agencies “It’s important for those in that fall under the executive public service to support candi- branch work together. dates like Hillary, who know the 4 Public Employee Quarterly Fall 2016 “Hillary can relate to the middle class as a whole and will make good decisions on programs that would support the working poor and middle class.” ~ Helen Carter Helen Carter and Marsha Moore elen Carter and to have the kind of services Moore is the mother of young Marsha Moore are we offer. He’s not like us,” said twins and thinks it’s a scary elec- members of Mont- Carter. “He doesn’t know what tion this year especially given H “I think Hillary is going to gomery Chapter 5700 and both it’s like to be a paycheck or two Trump’s temperament and his work for the Office of Work- away from financial hardship. anger towards so many groups. make this a better world for my force Development, a division of He can’t understand what it’s “As a mother, I want this coun- children and other children,” the Ohio Department of Job and like to need assistance or help,” try to be a better place, because said Moore. Family Services, in the Dayton she said. I have two children who are “Part of the problem with this area. For them, the choice this growing up in it,” Moore said. election is about knowledge. I election is an easy one. don’t think people know the Both believe that as a mother importance of this election.

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