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2 Dems join in vote to kill pro-union bill

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 19, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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A Democratic-led committee shot down a key pro-union bill Wednesday, leading some in organized labor to question whether some Democrats are turning their backs on workers.

Meanwhile, another pro- union measure could meet the same fate today.

Two Democrats joined with five Republicans on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee to kill a bill that would require state contractors to pay prevailing wages on any public works project.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Soper, D-Thornton, said as Colorado launches road and energy projects, it must ensure that workers are paid enough to stimulate the economy.

Several witnesses, including Colorado State University-Pueblo business professor Kevin Duncan, said surveys show that states with such laws do not see a marked increase in project costs, mainly because higher-priced workers are more efficient.

But Mark Latimer, president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, distributed charts showing that labor costs could rise 55 to 60 percent in some areas under the law.

"This bill will cost jobs among workers who wear blue jeans and muddy boots," said Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial.

The key votes in the 7-4 defeat, however, were those of Democratic Reps. Joe Rice, of Littleton, and Christine Scanlan, of Dillon.

Scanlan said she thought House Bill 1208 would cost the state too much, and Rice said he does not like laws that require the state to spend certain amounts of money.

Meanwhile, the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee delayed action on a bill to give police and firefighters the ability to form a union and bargain collectively.

A vote on Senate Bill 180 by Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Northglenn, could be taken today.

Comments

  • February 19, 2009

    7:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Joe_Lunchbucket writes:

    Kudos to Rice and Scanlan for having the guts to think for themselves — not be union puppets! If more Democrats thought for themselves, the legislature wouldn't be so highly partisan.

  • February 19, 2009

    8:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    FCZ writes:

    Union bosses do not need more money and power.

    Good for jobs to send unions away and send their stupid rules somewhere else.

  • February 19, 2009

    12:06 p.m.

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    wrkngmom2 writes:

    It always has to go there; union puppets, why because they are democrats? I have found that usually those making these types of comments have never lived with the benefits of what a "union" can do for a family.

    "But Mark Latimer, president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, distributed charts showing that labor costs could rise 55 to 60 percent in some areas under the law. "

    This statement is true because the job no longer goes automatically to the lowest bidder. Of course cost is going to rise, the contractors have to pay a living wage, and offer their employees benefits, not minimum wage and a handshake. What this statement fails to acknowledge is the cost of having to call in new contractors to re-do the job after the original job is done sub-par, when the law doesn't exist. These Union workers are skilled trades men/women who go to school and study just like someone with a four year college degree. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

  • February 19, 2009

    12:32 p.m.

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    cowboy69 writes:

    Will be interesting to see how this plays out as the govenor is pro union. Tax payers seem to forget there is always a debt to be paid (at your expense) for the support of being elected to public office.