Colorado's Big Labor Establishment Continues Anti-Worker Push

Face The State ^ | April 2, 2008

[george76]

As Gov. Bill Ritter continues his efforts to make his coalition with Big Labor look reasonable, one Colorado union is showing just how out of touch with reality union bosses really are.

United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 7 had introduced five statewide ballot initiatives that if approved for the November ballot and passed by voters, would collectively and significantly raise the cost of hiring new workers.

At a time when the U.S. economy continues to shed thousands of low-skilled jobs each quarter, the timing of the Local 7’s proposal is extremely questionable. One of the initiatives would require employers to provide health insurance. Another would mandate that employers give workers annual cost-of-living increases. These short-sighted efforts would raise costs for ordinary employers striving to make payroll on Fridays.

The net result: Fewer jobs in Colorado.

A third initiative filed Monday would deny tax breaks and other incentives otherwise available to companies that relocate jobs outside of the state. This punitive sanction for leaving Colorado, however, is followed by a fourth initiative that would punish businesses who commit to staying here. These businesses would be required to pay more in property taxes.

a fifth initiative would allow workers opportunities to sue their employers outside those already provided under Colorado’s workers' compensation structure.

In Colorado today, less than 10 percent of all private sector workers are unionized. Still, with Ritter in power, union bosses hold an disproportional amount of influence.

In November, Ritter's executive order to push unionism on state employees through “employee partnerships,” caused a much deserved political firestorm, with his backroom dealings earning him comparisons to fabled mobster Jimmy Hoffa.

[george76]

the looming showdown was inevitable after Democratic victories in recent years gave them control of the legislature and the Governor's Mansion for the first time in decades.

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[colorado tanker]

I can understand where big labor is coming from. They're saying it was our foot-soldiers and a lot of our money that put you in power, we expect a payback.

Romer and Lamm could get away with telling them they couldn't get these kinds of goodies because of the Republican legislature, but Ritter doesn't have that excuse.

'Course, the more he gives these lefties, the more his moderate costume wears off and the less electable he becomes. Poor him.