US News

Ohio union victory

Voters in Ohio last night overwhelmingly rejected a new state law that had restricted collective-bargaining rights for cops, firefighters, teachers and other public employees.

The legislation, which would have allowed the more than 350,000 workers to bargain on their wages, would have banned their right to strike, and eliminated binding arbitration or promotions based solely on seniority.

With about 95 percent of the ballots tallied, 61 percent had voted for an initiative that struck down the anti-union law.

The law hadn’t taken effect yet, but had stirred intense opinions on both sides of the political aisle.

Labor and business interests poured more than $30 million total into yesterday’s referendum.

In other elections around the country, voters in Kentucky re-elected Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

In Mississippi, Republican Phil Bryant won the gubernatorial election, succeeding term-limited Haley Barbour.

Also in Mississippi, voters rejected a referendum asking that life be defined as beginning at conception.