Colorado gov. unsure about union bill

Colorado gov. unsure about union bill

	Published : Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:36 By : Agencies Print this Story

DENVER (AFX) - Supporters of a bill that would make it easier for unions to collect dues and negotiate contracts should have met with business leaders before introducing the measure, Gov. Bill Ritter said.

He said the bill has created tension between Democrats and the business community, damaging a partnership Democrats have been trying to cultivate.

'It's the elephant in the middle of the room. Or maybe it's the donkey in the middle of the room,' Ritter said Thursday during a meeting of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, noting business leaders' anger over the measure.

'There should have been a conversation with the business community. I wasn't responsible for bringing that together. That was something that was initiated in the House and moved through the House very quickly. We heard about it about the same time you did,' he told a crowd of hundreds of business owners and leaders.

Ritter did not say whether or not he would sign the bill (House Bill 1072), but he said there will be issues on which he and business leaders disagree, as well as disagreements with labor leaders.

Ritter said one business leader indicated the business community might not back his health care reform if he signs the bill.

'For us to be moving forward in this state, we have to be always looking for common ground. I don't believe that the economic prosperity of this state rests on whether or not I sign the Labor Peace Act,' Ritter said.

Chuck Berry, head of the group that invited Ritter, said business leaders were not consulted about the bill and they are counting on Ritter not to sign it if it makes it through the Legislature.

'Hopefully it won't make it to his desk,' Berry said.

Democratic lawmakers told the business group that opponents were deliberately distorting the bill, claiming it would make it easier for employees to form unions. They said the bill only eliminates a state law requiring a second election if a union wants to set up a closed shop that would force all employees in a company to join the union.

The bill would require all eligible employees to pay dues, even if they decide not to join the union.

'I'm sort of amazed at the blowup around this,' said House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder.

She said union organizers would still have to convince a majority of employees to form a union in the first place.

Labor leaders accused business leaders of launching a 'disinformation campaign' in an attempt to kill the bill.

'This isn't a pro-union bill, this is a pro-worker bill.' said Ed Bagwell, the coordinator of the Change to Win Coalition, a federation of Colorado labor organizations.

Bagwell said the bill 'is a first step to leveling the playing field between workers and the corporations to help Colorado working families.'