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Union pulls two ballot initiatives

Says move made 'in the spirit of negotiation'

By David Milstead, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 11, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.

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The battle between business and labor that escalated for much of this spring may now be decelerating, thanks to a union's decision to yank two of its four ballot initiatives.

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 says it's heartened by the possibility the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce might vote today to oppose Amendment 47, a right-to- work measure that would erode union power.

Backers of that measure, however, including brewery heir Jonathan Coors, aren't backing down, spokesman Kelley Harp said.

"Amendment 47 will be on the ballot in November," Harp said. "Not only that, we're comfortable it will pass, and if any of the union measures made it, we're confident the people of Colorado will vote those down."

Wednesday's developments are the latest in a back-and- forth battle that many business and civic leaders liken to "mutually assured destruction" for the state's business climate.

The proponents of the right- to-work issue, who call themselves A Better Colorado, were riled by union-friendly public policy coming out of the General Assembly and the governor's office over the past two years.

Their solution was to seek to make Colorado a right-to-work state where "union shop" arrangements are banned. Union shops require all workers covered by collective-bargaining contracts to contribute financially in return for being represented by a union.

After the right-to-work measure was filed, it was followed by a wave of labor-backed initiatives widely believed to be retaliation.

The UFCW offered four proposals on business taxes, automatic wages and mandatory health care. A coalition called Protect Colorado's Future, which includes the AFL-CIO, has backed a measure to place restrictions on employers' ability to fire workers as well as a corporate fraud initiative that expanded legal liability.

Faced with the labor measures, the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry decided to back right-to-work.

The Denver chamber's legislative policy committee, by contrast, has recommended to the full board that it oppose all of the ballot measures. The Denver chamber board votes today.

UFCW President Ernest L. Duran Jr. said Wednesday in a statement: "I am heartened by the recent vote from the chamber committee to oppose 47, and in the spirit of negotiation, I have told Governor (Bill) Ritter and Congressman (Ed) Perlmutter that we are removing two of our ballot measures immediately. It is my hope the full chamber board will appreciate our willingness to act and will follow the recommendation of the . . . committee."

The UFCW is pulling an initiative that would have increased commercial property taxes by tweaking the Gallagher Amendment, the measure that keeps homeowners' property taxes low. The union also is yanking an initiative that called for an annual cost-of-living increase for employees of companies with more than 10 employees.

But the union is continuing on with two health-related ballot proposals, including one that would require employers with more than 20 workers to provide a plan for major medical coverage.

In a statement, Denver chamber President Joe Blake said, "I am delighted that the UFCW Local 7 has taken the first step away from mutually assured destruction and toward a return to the strong relationship that business and organized labor have enjoyed for decades.

"Together, labor and business passed FasTracks and Referendum C, and by working together we can continue to change Colorado's business climate for the better."

Dan Pilcher, a spokesman for the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, was less conciliatory, saying "the image that comes to mind is a six-shooter. Prior to this announcement, (labor) had six live rounds. They're taking out two, but the business community is still facing four, and that's not an attractive position."

Finance Editor David Milstead can be reached at milstead@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2648.

Comments

  • June 11, 2008

    5:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jacka writes:

    Vote YES on Amendment 47, all Coloradans should have the right to choose.

    UFCW negotiation strategy is this ... pull 47 or no labor peace.

    Unions are corrupt by selling labor peace and anyone acting in concert with UFCW or Protect Colorado’s Labor is corrupt and complicit in selling labor peace.

    Watch the Denver chamber and other chambers ... by Friday they will have come out against Amendment 47 because they choose to be corrupt and sell labor peace.

    Choice is ok if it a woman’s body, but should we continue with forced unionization – Yes according to some purported Colorado business organizations.

    Big Corporations, Denver Chamber, Big Unions and the Colorado Democrat machine = selling labor peace.

    It clearly shows UFCW knows their measures are anti-family and anti-worker. Why else would they have promoted them so strongly, called on members to act, begun collecting signatures, and then bailed out?

    Those selling labor peace are corrupt, their strategy is to keep 'negotiating' thru August in hopes Amendment 47 will go away by Aug 22nd. Post August Mayor Randy Pye has indicated that government officials will need to take further steps to battle Amendment 47 - what are those further steps Randy (who by the way works at the chamber too)?

    Meanwhile more free PR for Amendment 47; vote YES to stop forced unionization.

  • June 11, 2008

    9:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ksells writes:

    Any so called "right to work" proposal that might be passed should include wording that says unions must not be allowed to represent workers who chose not to belong to the union. In addition, the union will only bargain for union members and force non-union members to bargain for themselves. Of course, that isn't what Coors wants. Coors wants the union to spend its resources to get a leg up. I suspect the Coors family is proud of what happened at Ludlow.

  • June 11, 2008

    9:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jacka writes:

    ksells, I will sign the petition that does that. Lets meet at Sec of State office say 0900 Thursday. jacka

  • June 12, 2008

    11:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    zippy66 writes:

    The only reason the Denver Chamber is wavering in its support for 47 is because of the DNC. Once the circus leaves town, they'll be on board. Big Labor had to pull 2 of its measures because it doesn't have enough $$$ to continue the fight...and they were bad ideas that were sure to lose.

  • June 12, 2008

    11:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    PI writes:

    Jacka**
    The name says it all. I'll be letting the teamsters know that you will be union busting at 0900 Thursday at the Secretary of States Office, I hope they kick the the snot out of you. Better yet, I'll call the nurses union or the ballerinas union cause you are probably pretty wimpy. The people united will never be defeated, not even if you try sell them a line of bull. Right to Work for less ain't happenin.