Ohio joined Wisconsin on Wednesday in advancing a plan to restrict public sector unions, posing a new threat to labor union power in one of the most politically and economically important states.

The Republican-controlled Ohio state senate approved a proposal to curb the collective bargaining rights of public employees and forbid government workers from going on strike.

The vote followed the Wisconsin Assembly's approval last week of a similar proposal, which has sparked mass protests and a national debate over labor relations.

In both states, the plans still must be passed by a second chamber of the legislature and signed by the states' governors. Republicans, who have been pushing the anti-union proposals, hold the governorships and legislative majorities in both Wisconsin and Ohio.

If enacted, Ohio would become the biggest U.S. state so far to impose sweeping restrictions on public sector unions.

Read the complete Reuters story, “Ohio advances union restrictions as dispute spreads.”