GOP leader urges Ritter to 'come clean' on labor stance

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Colorado's highest-ranking Republican senator demanded Monday that Gov. Bill Ritter "come clean on his promises to big labor."

Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, said he and other Republican lawmakers are fearful that revelations over the past two weeks about Ritter's concessions to unions are but a prelude to a bigger payoff to come.

"The most disturbing thing is, we keep hearing recurring rumors that there is a major collective bargaining bill to organize employees at every level of state government," McElhany said, calling it a "budget-buster."

Senate President Joan Fitz- Gerald, D-Coal Creek Canyon, confirmed she has heard Ritter's office may be working on a state government reform package that could include collective bargaining for state employees. And she spoke positively of the possibility.

"Under the Owens years, the state employees did not fare well and they lost a lot of their benefits," she said.

Ritter declined to talk specifics on a possible initiative.

"We're working on how to best partner with state employees to deliver services faster, smarter and more effectively," said his spokesman, Evan Dreyer.

"It's too bad Senate Republicans don't think we should have productive and meaningful relationships with the state's snowplow drivers and other employees," he added.

Revelations this month of new, pro-union policies and partnerships in state government have drawn Republican complaints.

Ritter has not shied from the pro-union characterization. During his campaign last year, he said state employees should have the right to collectively bargain.

McElhany said he has also heard the legislation may require employees to join unions.

"It's an assault on state employees to force them into unions," he said. "I think state employees are very well compensated."

The chiefs of three of the state's major state employee unions said they welcome any initiative the governor may put forth to strengthen state employees' positions in the workplace. However, none of them said they knew of plans for a bill next session.

"I don't know that we could say anything has really jelled, but certainly with a Democratic administration that is fair to unions, certainly if I was a Republican, my little radar beams would be going off, too," said Jo Romero, president of the Colorado Federation of Public Employees.

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059