State lawmakers urge Wright State officials to help end strike

Ohio House Democratic lawmakers today wrote a letter* to the Wright State University Board of Trustees urging them to come back to the negotiating table and work with teachers to put an end to the almost three-week faculty strike.

“As lawmakers, we want to attract talented workers to our state and provide them with the opportunities they need to build a life for their families here. Access to health care, fair compensation, safe working conditions and ensuring hardworking people have a seat at the bargaining table not only strengthens our workforce, but our entire state’s economy,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

At stake is employees’ right to negotiate and collectively speak out for healthcare benefits. The strike was initiated Jan. 22 when the board of trustees sought to strip healthcare from the terms and conditions of faculty-administration collective bargaining negotiations. So far, the Wright State board and administrators have refused to return to the negotiating table.

*Editor’s note: A full copy of the letter is attached.

State lawmakers urge Wright State officials to help end strike (PDF)