Ritter backs union partnership

But collective bargaining may be needed, he says

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 14, 2007 at midnight

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Gov. Bill Ritter came out Thursday in support of union-backed "employee partnerships" for state employees.

But he said he "may or may not be able to" pull that off without including collective bargaining in the deal.

Ritter offered his first public thoughts on the topic during his monthly radio interview with KOA's conservative talk show host, Mike Rosen.

The Service Employee's International Union and other labor organizations have been lobbying Ritter since he took office to bring what they call a "partnership for the 21st century" to state government.

The union's model, which has gained more acceptance in the private sector in recent years, emphasizes how employees and employers can focus on improving organizations together.

It also includes a provision that would for the first time allow state employee unions to bargain collectively for better wages and benefits, according to correspondence between the union and the governor's office obtained by the Rocky Mountain News.

Republican legislators against collective bargaining have argued that it would amount to a union raid on the state budget and a payback by Democrats to the unions that helped them get elected.

But Ritter echoed the union on Thursday, saying that partnerships are less about money and more about "a whole host of things" geared toward making state employees feel more valued.

"This isn't about pay," Ritter said. "This is about a 21st century way of thinking about how you engage employees."

Ritter said that because he has to work within the limits of the budget structure, he won't have the power to give state employees significant raises, whether they have collective bargaining powers or not.

The state will continue to conduct an annual salary survey, which determines average private sector wage increases in a given year and recommends salaries accordingly, Ritter said. That recommendation will continue to be submitted to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee and to the governor's office.

Ultimately, the legislature is in control of state employee salaries, Ritter said.

"I know this causes great concern when people hear and think 'collective bargaining,' and that's what they're thinking, as opposed to finding a way to acknowledge the work of state employees, to take their input, to do things in partnership form that delivers a better service to the taxpayers," Ritter said.

"OK, can we do all that without collective bargaining?" Rosen said.

"We may or may not be able to," Ritter said.

Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany pounced on what he said was Ritter's noncommittal response.

"I would say if he's backing away from his promises to big labor, I want to be the first to congratulate him for coming to his senses," the Colorado Springs Republican said. "I think he ought to go on then and take collective bargaining off the table. He can form working groups with state employees without legislation."

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