Right-to-work closer to ballot

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/10/right-to-work-closer-to-ballot/

Proponents deliver their petitions to the secretary of state a day early
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Thursday, April 10, 2008

A right-to-work ballot measure cleared another obstacle Wednesday as backers turned in almost twice as many signatures as needed to put the controversial issue on the ballot in November.

Delivering nearly two dozen boxes of petitions a day ahead of schedule, supporters of the initiative sent a clear signal they intend to press ahead with their campaign to outlaw arrangements that require nonunion workers to pay union fees if they are covered by collective-bargaining agreements.


Linda McConnell / Special To The Rocky

A worker unloads 22 boxes of petitions supporting a proposed right-to-work measure at the secretary of state's office Wednesday. Campaign spokesman Kelley Harp said 133,000 signatures were collected; roughly 75,000 are needed to put the measure on the November ballot.



"This is an exciting day for Colorado," brewery heir Jonathan Coors, a key proponent, said in a statement. "This amendment will give Colorado workers the freedom to decide for themselves whether or not to join a union and protect the rights of all employees in the state."

Labor proponents note that Colorado law already requires workers to vote on whether they approve of the types of arrangements that the right-to-work measure seeks to eliminate.

A spokesman for Gov. Bill Ritter said there is still time for groups pitching various initiatives to back down ahead of the fall election.

"There are still opportunities to de-escalate this and get to a place where none of these measures appear on the ballot," said Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer. "The governor will continue the conversations he's been having and will talk with the business community and labor organizations and try to get there."

FULL story at link.

[Hugabear]

1. "Right to work" - what a fucking oxymoron

Right to work my ass. More like right-to-get-fired-for-no-fucking-reason. If this passes, Colorado workers can start saying hello to lower wages and benefits.

[leftstreet]

2. "..brewery heir Jonathan Coors.." is all excited!

As a corporate heir would be.

:eyes:

[Warpy]

3. "right to work" = NO RIGHT TO ORGANIZE

People in Colorado need to fight to make sure this stinker never sees the inside of the Governor's office.

Union rights were fought for and won at great cost by miners in Colorado and New Mexico. Don't let them be overturned.

[izquierdista]

4. Dumbth 101

How to get people to vote against their best interests: Wangle some nominal union dues in front of their face, while yanking benefits, safety concerns, pensions, grievance procedures and overtime rules out of their back pocket.

[HockeyMom]

5. Right to Work Florida

Add another zing to this state. But what do rich retirees care about "Right to Work".

Sorry, I am in a particular I HATE THIS STATE and want to go HOME mood today.

[provis99]

6. right to work= right to be oppressed

What a fucking joke of a phrase. Right to work sounds like everybody gets a guaranteed job! Typical Republican fascist Orwellian language.

[Omaha Steve]

7. 6 responses in 13 minutes

I don't think we ever had a faster response on a post. And it was while many DUers were still at work. Thanks for paying attention.