http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8884070A few key names, including Jonathan Coors', are known to back the initiative, conceived during the 2007 session.
By Andy Vuong
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 04/10/2008 11:32:14 PM MDT
The controversial right-to-work initiative was conceived during the 2007 legislative session but didn't gain steam until Gov. Bill Ritter signed an executive order in November creating a bargaining partnership with state workers, the campaign's political consultant said Thursday.
Proponents started plotting the measure after the introduction of House Bill 1072, which would have eliminated one of two votes needed by unions to set up all-union shops. The bill was vetoed by Ritter.
"It was very difficult to do anything (early on)," said Curt Cerveny, a consultant with Politically Direct in Denver.
But the group secured financial support after Ritter signed the executive order, which drew heated opposition from some business interests and Republicans.
Cerveny said the group spent about $300,000 to $400,000 gathering more than 133,000 signatures, which were submitted to the secretary of state's office Wednesday to get the initiative on the ballot this fall. Colorado Springs-based Kennedy Enterprises, a petition-gathering firm, collected the signatures.
The initiative would ask voters to amend the state constitution to say that union membership and the payment of union dues or fees could not be mandatory.
FULL story at link.
Related at link.
* Apr 11:
* Stirring the waters to rock political boats
* Apr 10:
* Right-to-work ballot battle builds
* A Better Colorado now on the Web
* Apr 9:
* Right-to-work petitions delivered
* Right-to-work bid keeping finances veiled, unions say
* Big firms quiet on ballot issue
* Apr 8:
* Closed-door confab seeks labor-business truce
* Apr 6:
* Labor unions allege fraud in right-to-work petition
* Apr 5:
* Right-to-work effort draws formal complaint
* Apr 4:
* Salazar gets to work on labor, business deal
* Apr 3:
* Labor, business need to cool off
* Apr 2:
* Biz, labor urged to work it out
* Labor's initiatives set up confrontation