Issue #2 is Bad for You

The plan to repeal Senate Bill 5

The Big Picture

The easiest way to lose this race is to become complacent based on the initial petition or polling numbers. Weve done a great job so far, but its not even close to over. We will not let the opposition define this debate. Turnout is critical. Those who are on our side must turn out to vote, even if they normally dont vote in odd year elections.

We Are Ohio Coalition Partners

Labor Organizations & Associations Allied Organizations Community Groups Ohioans

How we win
We will maximize the No votes from OEA members, the voters in their households and the people in the public who know us.

We will define the choice around Issue #2 it is unfair and the wrong values for Ohio; it is unsafe for public employees and our communities; and it hurts the middle class and all of us.

Where we start
Polling & How to talk about Issue #2

 Do you think this new law, which limits collective bargaining for public employees, should be kept or repealed? Repeal 56% Keep 32%

Quinnipiac poll
(before ballot language was approved)

Party Breakdown
Overall 56% repeal, 32% keep Democrats 75% repeal, 14% keep Independents 52% repeal, 33% keep Republicans 35% repeal, 56% keep

Some specific, out of context attacks cause some problems

Do you support or oppose requiring public employees to pay at least 10% to their pensions? 33% oppose, 58% support Do you support or oppose replacing pay increases based on longevity with merit pay? 35% oppose, 56% support Do you support or oppose requiring public employees to pay at least 15% of their health care premiums? 33% oppose, 60% support

How we re-focus the conversation

Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, but only the pig likes it.

We win when we remind voters why they like us and what is really at stake for all of us in this election. They like us because they respect the work we do and they admire the selfless service we perform. This election is really about fairness, safety and the middle class. Issue #2 is unfair, it makes our communities less safe and its bad for the middle class.

The 3 components of our Message Triangle

1. Unfair 2. Unsafe 3. Hurts the middle class and all of us

Three Sides of the Message Triangle

3. Make politicians start serving We the People and stop blaming them.

Unfair No on Issue #2 Hurts us All Unsafe

1. Stop pro-SB5 politicians who only want to look out for themselves and their special interest friends, not the people they serve. 2. Stop the politicians who are willing to put your safety at risk.

Side #1: SB5 is UNFAIR

Politicians made special exceptions for themselves and upper management, while stripping the rights of middle class Ohioans. Its not Ohio values to let firefighters, police, and teachers lose their rights and see their wages and benefits gutted, while the insiders and people at the top get big pay increases and bonuses.
Call to Action: Stop pro-SB5 politicians who only want to look out for themselves and their special interest friends, not the people they serve.

Side #2: SB5 is UNSAFE

SB5 puts the safety of all our families at risk by making it illegal for nurses, teachers and emergency responders to fight for safer staffing levels, critical safety equipment and training that protects them and our communities.

Call to Action: Stop the politicians who are willing to put your safety at risk.

Side #3 SB5 Hurts Us All

SB5 hurts Ohio families and blames public employees for a mess caused by Wall Streets greed. Instead of serving We the People and working to create jobs, some politicians work harder for big corporate donors by offering them tax breaks and selling off our parks, prisons, and turnpikes. That doesnt create anything but a bigger hole in the budget.

Call to Action: Make politicians start serving We the People and stop blaming them.

1. 2. 3.

Define the choice Define the consequences Counter their attack

SB5 is UNFAIR .
Politicians make special exceptions for themselves and upper management, while stripping the rights of middle class Ohioans. Its not Ohio values to let firefighters, police, and teachers lose their rights and see their wages and benefits gutted, while the insiders and people at the top get big pay increases and bonuses.

3. Make politicians start serving We the People and stop blaming them.

1. Stop pro-SB5 politicians who only want to look out for themselves and their special interest friends, not the people they serve. 2. Stop the politicians who are willing to put your safety at risk.

Vote No on Issue 2 Unfair, Unsafe and SB5 HURTS US ALL: Hurts Middle Class SB5 hurts Ohio families Families and blames public employees

SB5 is UNSAFE:

for a mess caused by Wall Streets greed. Instead of serving We the People and working to create jobs, some politicians work harder for big corporate donors by offering them tax breaks and selling off our parks, prisons, and turnpikes. That doesnt create anything but a bigger hole in the budget.

SB5 puts the safety of all our families at risk by making it illegal for nurses, teachers and emergency responders to fight for safer staffing levels, critical safety equipment and training that protects them and our communities.

Words That Work

Turns our backs on the people who watch ourslike teachers, nurses Takes away the rights of and firefighters Unsafe middle class Ohioans School safety Politicians should keep Our friends and We the People their promises to Ohios neighbors who are public employees teachers, nurses, Corporate special firefighters and other Tax breaks for big interests and their public employees corporations high-paid lobbyists Hurts the middle class The wrong thing to do Unintended consequences Critical safety Safe staffing levels for nurses Flawed equipment for firefighters Makes a special exception / has a loophole for upper management and politicians Hold Wall Street and CEOs accountable Unfair

Messaging Dos and Donts

DO MAINTAIN MESSAGE DISCIPLINE Stay proactive and aggressive in pushing our message. Talk about the broader impact on the public and OH communities Make this fight about protecting the middle class families of Ohio Make the call to action to turn-out and vote every time. Use all components of frame to layer our message exemption for those at the top, protecting the safety of our families, protecting the middle class. Stay focused on the proactive message about protecting families Stay focused on the proactive message about protecting middle class families Say public employees or frontline public employees DONT Waste time responding directly to opponent attacks and giving their message airtime. Re-focus to our message! Talk about the impact on unions Make this fight about protecting unions State the problem without giving the solution turning out to vote Use one component alone because it does not make the most effective case. Go on the attack against Kasich directly instead, bunch him in with the politicians Make your tone too partisan or angry Say government employees, public service unions, labor unions

Discipline Matters: How to React to Attacks

Their message has two parts:
1) Union-bashing:
Plain Dealer: "It's about determining whether the unions or the people are in charge of the government, making spending cuts to balance the books and ending public sector unions' built-in advantage in negotiations." Intelligencer: "The unions detest such limits on their power. But we think Ohio voters will approve of them once they learn just what SB 5 would do for the vast majority of Buckeye State residents. When voters go to the polls this fall, they will cast ballots based on facts not unions' propaganda."

2) Positioning SB5 as NECESSARY to MANAGE COSTS and a matter of FAIRNESS to TAXPAYERS:

Opinion leaders around the state have been supporting Senate Bill 5 as a critical component of the efforts to protect taxpayer dollars and manage our costs effectively. Dispatch: "The need for concessions in the pay and benefits of teachers and other public employees isn't a reflection on the importance of their professions or the quality of their work. It is a matter of financial necessity and fairness." this issue is about responsible spending and not an attack on others as the unions are asking you to believe. It's time to treat taxpayers with respect.

General Re-Focus Phrases

Actually .. The real question is . Where we really need to focus . What people are really concerned about is . The more important questions/problem/issue is .. Why cant the politicians focus on the real problem

Re-focus Phrases Attacks on Unions

They say attack/blame unions, worker abuse You say Why are politicians attacking middle class families, when they should be serving them . You say The people abusing the system are the politicians making a special exemption just for themselves and upper management You say They want to blame working families not serve them. The fingers should be pointed at Wall Street they caused this mess not the working families of Ohio You say If they really cared about being fair to taxpayers why is Gov Kasich selling off our prisons and parks to give tax breaks to corporate special interests .

Example Re-focus from Attacks on Unions

They say. Union leaders only care about increasing the dues they take out of workers pockets and protecting their own corrupt system. Union boss Smith has been indicted for corruption. These are the kinds of people they are fighting to protect, not Ohio taxpayers You re-focus to Its a sad and isolated case and Mr. Smith will get what he deserves but the real crime here is the thousands of middle class Ohioans who rights have been stripped away while politicians pay back corporate donors. Middle class families are being punished by politicians who want to gut the wages and benefits of firefighters, teachers and nurses while selling off our parks, turnpikes and prisons. That doesnt create the jobs we so desperately need; it just creates a bigger hole in our budget.

Re-focus Phrases Tax Fairness

They say were broke, we have to balance the budget and be fair to taxpayers You say You dont solve the problems facing Ohio Families by attacking them and putting their safety at risk You say SB5 is wrong for Ohio families and puts their safety at risk You say You cant let politicians create special exemptions for themselves and upper management while they put Ohio Families safety at risk.

Example Re-Focus from Fiscal Crisis/ Tax Fairness

They Say We are facing a national and state financial crisis. The state is broke and we simply cant afford to give more to unions while taxpayers lose out. Like Ohios families, government has got to start living within its means and ask the unions to pay their fair share like everyone else. Its the fairest thing to do for taxpayers. You Re-focus to Whats not fair is to let firefighters, police, and teachers lose their rights and see their wages and benefits gutted, while the insiders and people at the top get big pay increases and bonuses. SB5 hurts Ohio families and blames public employees for a mess caused by Wall Streets greed. Instead of serving We the People and working to create jobs, politicians like, Gov. Kasich, work harder for big corporate donors by offering them tax breaks. That doesnt create anything but a bigger hole in the budget.

Who are we going to talk to

The Power of Personal Connections & Personal Stories

The most effective advocate for getting me to vote to repeal SB 5 is a person that I know and respect. The most effective way to reach me is by talking to me from your heart. I will believe you over ads on TV, radio, newspapers and the internet. (But if I dont hear from you, Ill believe the ads)

We all have powerful stories within us

By the end of this conversation, you are going to have a good idea of how to talk about your story. I want to share my story with you right now. Then, we are going to talk about what we need to do to win this election.

Friends, Family & Neighbors

Introduction & Overview

What is the Friends, Family & Neighbors Program? (FFN)

Use personal contacts and personal stories Identify your team colleagues, friends, co-workers & family members Communicate one time each week with your FFN team about Issue #2 An easy to use website allows you to communicate with FFN contacts (Paper version also available)

Friends, Family & Neighbors: Easy and Effective

1. Identify your team through our web tool or our brochure. 2. Work with OEA & WAO staff to develop your personal story about why Issue #2 must be defeated. 3. Check in with the campaign via the website or phone to find out about the Action of the Week & contact your team. 4. Let the campaign know how your conversations each week go.

STEP 1: Whos on your team?

Family Members

You select your team

Neighbors

Colleagues

Your Dry Cleaner

You
Friends

Personal networks are the key to communicating about SB5 / Issue #2. These may not be people we could ask to vote for a specific candidate, but they are people we can ask to vote for us.

Your Kids Friends Parents

The InLaws

Let us know whos on your team.

When you sign up for Friends, Family and Neighbors, you will tell us who you would like on your team to repeal SB5. You can do this either through our website or through a brochure you can mail to your LRC. Our system will ensure that the voters you adopt are matched and identified on the voter file.

Dont Worry weve got a paper way, too

If you dont have Internet or dont like computers. A mail-in brochure explains the program, and you can add your Friends, Family & Neighbors to your team. OEA LRCs will work with offline members to keep them up to date and get their results.

OEA Levels of Involvement

Gold: (40+)
Adopts 40 or more friends, family and neighbors.

Silver: (9-39 voters) Adopts at least 9 other voters on his or her team. This will likely include a few colleagues, some family members and a couple of neighbors. Bronze: (3-8 voters) Adopts the registered voters in his or her household and close family members, like parents, children and brothers & sisters.

Step 2: Whats your story?

Your personal story is the best way to win over the people closest to you. Write and then practice telling a short version of your story. By your story we mean: Why are you involved in public education? How will SB5 affect the students you serve? Why are you involved with the campaign? Weekly WAO conference calls and on-going web conferences will help answer questions and provide tips.

An Example Story
I always wanted to be a teacher and I love teaching 3rd grade. I really enjoy helping my students learn to love reading. Im worried because Senate Bill 5 will take away my voice in school decisions, like how big our class sizes are. Adding five or six more students will really take away the personal attention that I know my students need from me. Im willing to do whatever it takes to help these children, and right now that means that we need to defeat Issue #2 and repeal Senate Bill 5.

Step 3: Stay the Course Communicate Each Week

Each week, its important to communicate the importance of repealing SB5 to your team. A personal phone call A letter, postcard or personal email An in-person conversation Signing a pledge card These actions can be done on your schedule when you have the time. The weekly conference calls will review this weeks action(s) and provide message and campaign updates.

You Control the Contact With Your Team, Not Us

You select the voters that you know and want on your FFN list. A voter will only be in one FFN team. The system will automatically de-duplicate teams in early September. If you are contacting your team each week, they will be removed from some WAO call and mailing lists.
This means fewer robo calls!

Personal contact from you is more persuasive than contact from strangers. We will suggest a contact type (action) each week, and you will control when it happens.

Your data is safe and secure

We Are Ohio will not share who is on your team (friends, family and neighbors) with any political party or other organization. Your team will not receive more communication because you added them. In fact, your friends, family and neighbors will receive less communication from WAO if you are talking to them and entering the data each week.

Step 4: Let Us Know How Its Going with Your Contacts

After Labor Day, the online system will allow you to enter your results -- Did you reach your contacts or leave a message? Are your team members supportive of repeal? Have they signed a pledge card? IMPORTANT: Report back on your interactions so we know how its going. At some point, the campaign will be able to remove your team members who you are talking with from some of the statewide contact efforts, like robo calls.

Updating Your Team

As the campaign moves forward, you may learn that some folks should be removed from your team, because they: Have already voted (early or absentee); Refuse to support us; or Have moved out of Ohio. We also may find that some other voters need to hear from you and we will suggest them to you: They didnt get adopted by anyone, and They are connected to you. We may ask you to adopt these and you can decide whether to accept them.

Together, We Will Repeal SB 5!

Senate Bill 5 is unfair, unsafe and it hurts the middle class. We are going to step up and defeat it by voting No on Issue #2. Each of us already knows more than enough voters in Ohio to win this election. You are the most powerful and most persuasive advocate for defeating Issue #2.

A Look at the Web Sign-up and Team-building Tool

www.waofriends.com