Labor fires back with more ballot measures
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 04:15 p.m., March 31, 2008
Updated 04:15 p.m., March 31, 2008
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One of the state's biggest unions has filed five new ballot initiatives, including a measure that would require Colorado employers to give workers cost-of-living increases so that wages can keep up with inflation.
The move by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 follows last week's endorsement of a "right-to-work" initiative by the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
"These are issues we feel will protect working families in full especially if the right-to-work initiative were to pass," said Manny Gonzales, spokesman for UFCW Local 7. "It's something that would protect workers in areas that would suffer under the right-to-work effort."
The union's other proposals would:
-Force companies with 20 or more workers to provide major health coverage
-Require employees to provide safe workplaces and would ban tax credits for any Colorado companies sending any jobs overseas.
-Ban tax credits for Colorado companies sending any jobs overseas
-Increase in the assessment of non-residential real property to 34 percent from 29 percent of its actual value. The increased revenues could be used for healthcare and education.
Gonzales said that the right-to-work measure seeks to destroy unions and working families.
The right-to-work initiative would outlaw arrangements requiring all employees to pay fees for union representation, whether they are members or not.
A key proponent of the right-to-work ballot proposal has said in previous interviews with the Rocky Mountain News that he supports the measure because he opposes forcing workers to join unions. Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier has also rejected assertions that the measure will hurt working families.
"If I thought for once it would hurt working families, I wouldn't not support the measure," Frazier said.
Comments
Posted by geriatric1943 on March 31, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Food is rising enough without also having to increase due to labor. If labor unions were to provide a better product that's another story but for the most part it will just hurt the poor or those on fixed incomes.
Taking away the right of employees the choice of belonging to a union or not is just wrong. Where is choice? It has been my experience that unions try to force people to join by threats and sliced tires as it is. But at least there is a choice.
Union membership has been decreasing for many years and there is a reason for it. Unions are no better than business when it comes to mistreating their members. They are also pushing for illegal immigration to build their membership rolls.
Posted by oneworker on April 1, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone has a choice of whether to belong to a union now. The only issue is whether you get the benefit without paying. If you want the benefit without paying, then these laws will give everyont some of those things.
Posted by guster on April 1, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unions exist because corporations are more powerful than individuals and exploit workers in order to achieve their primary goal -- that of making a profit. Those employees who live and work in states that are "right-to-work" states make less money per hour, have less benefits, and, consequently, a lower standard of living. This affects the entire ecomony in which they live because they have less money to spend to stimulate the economy. This is just common sense! Those who would vote for the right-to-work ballot initiative are undermining their own economic stability. A society is only as strong as its weakest member, and unions exist to level the playing field when individuals unite to negotiate their wages, benefits, and working conditions.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Posted by momoftwo on April 1, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unions give working people, the overwhelming majority of people in this country, a voice. We deserve to be heard just as much as the Corporations.
Posted by christinealonzo68 on April 1, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMENTATORS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF A UNION.UNIOND ARE AN ESSENTIAL REASON WHY WE AS AMERICANS HAVE CHILD LABOR LAWS,A 40HR WORK WEEK,AND EQUAL WAGES FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE.
DO NOT BE CONFUSED BY BIG CORPORATE AGENDAS,THEY ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT FURTHER CUSHIONING THE POCKETS OF THEIR CEO'S WHO HAVE MILLION DOLLAR SALARIES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORKING FAMILIES
Posted by GoPackGo on April 1, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Employers such as Wal-Mart should provide Health Care to their empoyees instead of the tax payers picking up the tab for employees family members that use public assistance.
Posted by furious on April 1, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Destroy unions,destroy wages,destroy Colorado. How smart you gotta be
Posted by courtneym on April 1, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
without the union people will have no voice so that means no voice no chance no change no life
Posted by AK47 on April 1, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WITHOUT UNIONS THIS STATE WOULD REALLY STUGGLE... I AM TIRED OF GREEDY CORPORATE PIGS TRYING TO KILL THE MIDDLE CLASS.
Posted by juan on April 2, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
im dont agree if the pruposal for rights to work pass because the ones that made the pruposal are not telling the truth and their not explaining that if the pruposal passes the people losses the right to negotiate contracts with their employees and their trying to tear apart the people because that puruposal dont say whats gonna happen if its aproved. the ones that want it to pass here in the state should put in the ballot to vote it should say rights to work for less money and less benefits and please i want everybody that reads my comment should talk about it with the local unions for them to explain you what hides behind the words of rights to work if you want me to explain whats behind them words should contact me on my email address juanperea010@msn.com
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