Dems want to let House staff unionize

Two House Democrats want to let their aides and all of Ohio’s legislative support staff members form a union, and they’re introducing a bill that would remove a section of state law that prohibits it.

“As legislators, we have the ability to remove current legal barriers and stand up for workers’ rights by updating state law,” Rep. Allison Russo, D-upper Arlington, said in a statement. “In light of recent events, there is no better time than the present to do so.”

Russo was referring to when Republican House Speaker Larry Householder told legislators and their staff members to work from home after an unnamed staffer tested positive for COVID-19. Democrats, such as Rep. Jeff Crossman, D-parma, slammed the Glenford Republican for what they described as a lack of transparency.

The legislative aide to Rep. Jessica Miranda, D-forest Park, was “mistakenly identified as having had contact with the infected staffer and sent home without any additional details or explanation,” according to the release.

Miranda wrote a letter to the speaker expressing her concerns about her staffer as well as Republican aides who “have not been wearing masks, not been staying in their offices and have not been staying at safe distances.”

“Ohio workers, including our staff, have a right to a safe workplace. The public have a right to safety at the legislature. No one should have to risk their lives or the lives of their families to interact with their government,” Miranda wrote. astaver@dispatch.com @annastaver

A West Jefferson man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Deer Creek Township in Madison County, the State Highway Patrol said.

Kenneth A. Pfeil Jr., 73, of West Jefferson, was driving west on Route 142 near Simpson Road about 2 p.m. when he went off the right side of the road and struck a tree and a utility pole, the patrol reported.

Pfeil, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Madison County coroner.

“Drug impairment is suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash,” the patrol said in a news release. The crash remains under investigation.