UCBA Professor of History John McNay has recently had a book published titled “Collective Bargaining and the Battle of Ohio: The Defeat of Senate Bill 5 and the Struggle to Defend the Middle Class.” Published by Palgrave Macmillan, the book is available for purchase on Amazon.
“The experience in Senate Bill 5 was such an important thing in Ohio History,” McNay said. “I’d like to think that ordinary Ohioans ought to remember what happened in 2011.”
If you aren’t familiar with the topic, there are a few things to know.
“In the 2010 elections, right wing extremists seized power to create a society where corporations have free reign,” McNay explained.
The Republican legislature and Governor John Kasich passed Senate Bill 5 early in 2011. The bill was especially aimed at unions in Ohio, particularly those of public employees, including university professors.
Professionals in various different fields came together to fight the bill and protect collective bargaining, which is the negotiation of wages and other employment conditions.
McNay explained that the same thing was going on in multiple other states, but it was only the voters in Ohio who had the ability to stop things from progressing.
“We can change things with votes. Ordinary people and workers matter,” he said.
Senate Bill 5 was repealed in the 2011 election by a two to one margin.
Besides being available on Amazon, the book may be accessible in local bookstores and libraries soon. He’s also hoping that a paperback edition of the book will be made available.
Funds received from book sales go to the AAUP (American Association of University Professors) Endowment.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025