Unions look to next leap

The Denver Post ^ | 01/07/2008 | Michael Booth

[george76]

While business leaders rail at Gov. Bill Ritter's partnership push, workers are making gains - some even when unionizing fails. Meanwhile, a fight to make Colorado a right-to-work state looms.

When Gov. Bill Ritter eased the path for organizing state workers in November, he set off just one of the high-profile fights destined to take place here in 2008.

"We are seeing the next generation of union members coming along," said Mark Schwane, Colorado director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Ritter upended the business-labor balance by handing unions huge new resources to organize... "You have 30,000 classified state employees; take $50 in dues a month, that's $1.5 million a month, $18 million a year. A lot of money going into the unions to turn around and use that money for their own gains," ...

A key question in unionized workplaces is whether all covered employees have to pay dues or a smaller administrative fee, whether they support the union or not.

But many employers and workers object to rules in these closed shops that can result in firing employees who don't pay the fees. Twenty-three states are "right to work," meaning they prohibit mandated membership.

Colorado is the only state that is neither closed- nor open-shop — it instead requires a second layer of worker voting to require workers to pay dues or fees...

Under Amendment 27, passed in 2002, individuals and most corporate donors can send only about $400 to each candidate...

But "small-donor" committees can take $20 anonymously from many donors and give $4,000 to each candidate, multiplied over and over by each union committee...

For the 2006 election, the UFCW donated $151,075 to 44 candidates.

All 44 were Democrats.

[george76]

There are 49,000 government employees in the state ?

.

[boop]

"A key question in unionized workplaces is whether all covered employees have to pay dues or a smaller administrative fee, whether they support the union or not."

This is "fairness" to liberals. How would they like it if 50 bucks per month was taken from their paychecks and given to the GOP for "fundraising purposes"?

[JSDude1]

GO: Colorado Citizens for a Right to Work! Wishing you well..