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A rude awakening for two union families

Public-sector union workers in Ohio, and across the country, are coming to grips with the fact that many people view public-sector union workers as the reason for their state’s looming budget deficit.

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After discussing Gov. John Kasich's proposed budget, a contemplative Jim Embree gazes toward the quiet middle-class suburban street where he lives. Embree, a figherfighter, and his wife Judy, an operating room nurse at Ohio State University Medical Center, are surprised by the anger some have shown toward the state's federal workers.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jim Embree rushes out of Canal Winchester Fire Station 182 on a call. Embree earns $70,700. He is eligible to retire in two years, at age 50, after 25 years on the job. He will take home 60 percent of his retiring salary.

Jim Embree rushes out of Canal Winchester Fire Station 182 on a call. Embree earns $70,700. He is eligible to retire in two years, at age 50, after 25 years on the job. He will take home 60 percent of his retiring salary.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Judy, left, and Jim Embree, center, with daughter Sydney, 16, at their home in the middle-class suburbs of Columbus. A recently passed Ohio Senate bill restricts collective-bargaining rights, while the governor's budget further affects state labor by proposing to privatize five prisons, create more privately operated charter schools and roughly halve the money local governments receive to help pay for police, firefighters and other public workers.

Judy, left, and Jim Embree, center, with daughter Sydney, 16, at their home in the middle-class suburbs of Columbus. A recently passed Ohio Senate bill restricts collective-bargaining rights, while the governor's budget further affects state labor by proposing to privatize five prisons, create more privately operated charter schools and roughly halve the money local governments receive to help pay for police, firefighters and other public workers.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Judy Embree works with other nurses to clean up after a cardiac implant. Judy and her husband Jim could continue to work and improve their pensions; Judy Embree would qualify for 100 percent of her wages after 44 years of service (at age 68).

Judy Embree works with other nurses to clean up after a cardiac implant. Judy and her husband Jim could continue to work and improve their pensions; Judy Embree would qualify for 100 percent of her wages after 44 years of service (at age 68).

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

During a stressful time for state workers in Ohio, Judy Embree takes a break from a costume fitting at her church. The divide between those who back union workers and those who don’t comes down to a matter of perception over what qualifies as modest and what is too much.

During a stressful time for state workers in Ohio, Judy Embree takes a break from a costume fitting at her church. The divide between those who back union workers and those who don’t comes down to a matter of perception over what qualifies as modest and what is too much.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Firefighter Larry Baugess maintains Fire Station 181's firetruck in Groveport, Ohio. A new union bill inflicts only part of the pain that public workers are feeling in Ohio these days.

Firefighter Larry Baugess maintains Fire Station 181's firetruck in Groveport, Ohio. A new union bill inflicts only part of the pain that public workers are feeling in Ohio these days.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Librarian and teacher Heather Baugess, right, and her husband, Larry Baugess, a firefighter, far left, pray before dinner in Canal Winchester, Ohio. “It’s not the money,” said Heather, who earns about $60,000 and whose husband, Larry, earns a bit more. “We’re comfortable. It’s the teacher-bashing. It’s the negativity. I guess I live in my own perfect world where everybody supports teachers and everybody supports firefighters. I don’t want that to change.”

Librarian and teacher Heather Baugess, right, and her husband, Larry Baugess, a firefighter, far left, pray before dinner in Canal Winchester, Ohio. “It’s not the money,” said Heather, who earns about $60,000 and whose husband, Larry, earns a bit more. “We’re comfortable. It’s the teacher-bashing. It’s the negativity. I guess I live in my own perfect world where everybody supports teachers and everybody supports firefighters. I don’t want that to change.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Prepping his mobile home for a family budget vacation to Florida, firefighter Jim Embree is among those who have been alarmed by the number of people who view public-sector union workers as part of the state's budget problem.

Prepping his mobile home for a family budget vacation to Florida, firefighter Jim Embree is among those who have been alarmed by the number of people who view public-sector union workers as part of the state's budget problem.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Judy Embree decorates a prop for a church play. The Embrees, both public-sector union workers, thought of themselves as linchpins of the community — and one of the biggest rewards of their jobs was knowing that the rest of the world thought so, too. However, a growing number of people see the Embrees as a tax on the system.

Judy Embree decorates a prop for a church play. The Embrees, both public-sector union workers, thought of themselves as linchpins of the community — and one of the biggest rewards of their jobs was knowing that the rest of the world thought so, too. However, a growing number of people see the Embrees as a tax on the system.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Firefighter Larry Baugess maintains Fire Station 181's fire truck in Groveport, Ohio. Governors and legislators, with the vocal support of large blocs of voters, have sought to curb the escalating cost of salaries, pension and health benefits that have ballooned budgets across the country.

Firefighter Larry Baugess maintains Fire Station 181's fire truck in Groveport, Ohio. Governors and legislators, with the vocal support of large blocs of voters, have sought to curb the escalating cost of salaries, pension and health benefits that have ballooned budgets across the country.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Librarian and teacher Heather Baugess teaches students at Canal Winchester Middle School. Two days after Ohio's Republican Gov. John Kasich released his budget, teachers gathered quietly in the school's library at the end of the day to comfort tearful colleagues who’d just received letters that they’d probably lose their jobs if Kasich’s budget goes through.

Librarian and teacher Heather Baugess teaches students at Canal Winchester Middle School. Two days after Ohio's Republican Gov. John Kasich released his budget, teachers gathered quietly in the school's library at the end of the day to comfort tearful colleagues who’d just received letters that they’d probably lose their jobs if Kasich’s budget goes through.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Heather Baugess speaks to her husband, firefighter Larry Baugess, while they prepare for dinner.

Heather Baugess speaks to her husband, firefighter Larry Baugess, while they prepare for dinner.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Heather Baugess and her husband, Larry Baugess, talk to their sons, Levy, 15, left, and, Luke, 14, while preparing for dinner.

Heather Baugess and her husband, Larry Baugess, talk to their sons, Levy, 15, left, and, Luke, 14, while preparing for dinner.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Judy Embree puts on a surgical mask before entering the operating room to clean up after a cardiac surgery. Judy Embree earns $63,000. Under current rules, she is eligible to retire in five years, at age 54, after 30 years on the job. Upon retirement, she will be paid about 66 percent of her wages.

Judy Embree puts on a surgical mask before entering the operating room to clean up after a cardiac surgery. Judy Embree earns $63,000. Under current rules, she is eligible to retire in five years, at age 54, after 30 years on the job. Upon retirement, she will be paid about 66 percent of her wages.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Judy Embree takes a moment before cleaning an operating room. While there are no data showing how many families there are like the Embrees, they are not hard to find.

Judy Embree takes a moment before cleaning an operating room. While there are no data showing how many families there are like the Embrees, they are not hard to find.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Heather Baugess, teaches students, including Jerod Conely, 13, right, at Canal Winchester Middle School. An unofficial poll of employees gathered in the library on a recent school day found seven spouses of other public workers: a librarian married to a firefighter; an eighth-grade math teacher married to a court bailiff; a gym teacher married to a sixth-grade teacher; and so on.

Heather Baugess, teaches students, including Jerod Conely, 13, right, at Canal Winchester Middle School. An unofficial poll of employees gathered in the library on a recent school day found seven spouses of other public workers: a librarian married to a firefighter; an eighth-grade math teacher married to a court bailiff; a gym teacher married to a sixth-grade teacher; and so on.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Speaking of how 'for the first time as an American middle class worker' she fears for the future of her family, Judy Embree sits at her home in a suburb of Columbus.

Speaking of how "for the first time as an American middle class worker" she fears for the future of her family, Judy Embree sits at her home in a suburb of Columbus.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

A worn out firetruck and firefighter plaque sit in the front yard of the Embrees' home in a suburb of Ohio.

A worn out firetruck and firefighter plaque sit in the front yard of the Embrees' home in a suburb of Ohio.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

The Embrees' dog, 'CC' which stands for Carbon Copy, keeps the family entertained during stressful times. Judy Embree, right, sits on the couch with her mother, Sumiko Graves, left, who lives with the Embrees in Ohio.

The Embrees' dog, "CC" which stands for Carbon Copy, keeps the family entertained during stressful times. Judy Embree, right, sits on the couch with her mother, Sumiko Graves, left, who lives with the Embrees in Ohio.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Heather Baugess and Larry Baugess run together through their town of Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Heather Baugess and Larry Baugess run together through their town of Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Surrounded by other middle school teachers, Heather Baugess, center, discusses the teacher's union actions concerning the potential loss of jobs in the Canal Winchester school district. A grim scene played out across Ohio that day — just as it has in other states where teachers have received provisional layoff notices.

Surrounded by other middle school teachers, Heather Baugess, center, discusses the teacher's union actions concerning the potential loss of jobs in the Canal Winchester school district. A grim scene played out across Ohio that day — just as it has in other states where teachers have received provisional layoff notices.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jim and Judy Embree hug at their church.

Jim and Judy Embree hug at their church.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

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