AP reports
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Republican-led House in the state of Ohio has voted to severely limit the collective bargaining rights of 350,000 public workers, sending a bill that's sparked weeks of pro-labor protests back to the state Senate.

The full House approved the measure Wednesday on a 53-44 vote.

A vote in the Republican-controlled Senate could come later Wednesday. That chamber narrowly passed a previous version of it.

The measure allows unions to negotiate wages but not health care, sick time or pension benefits. It also does away with automatic pay increases in favor of merit raises. Workers also would be banned from striking.

The Ohio legislation will affect safety workers, teachers, nurses and a host of other government personnel.

A similar law passed by Republican lawmakers in the state of Wisconsin has prompted large protest rallies.

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