Columbus Schools to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits to Union Employees

Columbus City Schools is poised to become one of the first public districts in Ohio to offer benefits to most employees' same-sex partners, a move that is drawing fire from some in the union. The tentative contract for the Columbus Education Association, the union representing teachers, counselors and nurses, opens medical coverage to employees' same-sex domestic partners and their children. It also provides union members paid leave for the illness or death of a partner and the partner's immediate family. Of the Ohio Education Association's more than 600 locals, only one -- Oberlin City Schools -- has successfully bargained for domestic-partner benefits, according to an association spokeswoman. Full Story from Dispatch Politics

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