Labor gets seat at city table

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8483120

Denver's economic prosperity task force will have union ally as co-chairman
By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 03/07/2008 02:12:48 AM MST

A reshaped political landscape is giving labor unions a chance to push issues at Denver's City Hall that didn't get heard in the past, political observers say.

Leaders in both the labor and business communities say they've seen a new tone develop, leading to increased wages for city workers and public fights over proclamations praising citizens aligned with one side or the other.

"I definitely think there's a shift in terms of what kinds of conversations people want to have," said Carmen Rhodes, executive director of FRESC, a labor-backed organization (formerly the Front Range Economic Strategy Center) that wants assurances companies receiving public subsidies for development will generate jobs that pay good wages.

The latest example of labor's rising clout will be on display when city leaders convene a new economic prosperity task force today.

Labor will have a big presence on the panel, which will meet through the end of the year. The push for the task force came from Councilman Doug Linkhart, a labor ally who will serve as co-chair.

Labor leaders hope to push an agenda through the group that would require companies that receive public development subsidies to pay prevailing industry wages.

FULL story at link.