A Face The State Editorial
Gov. Bill Ritter’s November executive order allowing for a vast expansion of union influence in state government prompted the Denver Post to liken Ritter, a Democrat, to notorious labor strongman Jimmy Hoffa. Recent events show that Ritter's friends in big labor are working hard to honor the former labor boss' legacy.
HoffaCorbis
Colorado WINS, the labor coalition vying to unionize state workers, defied state leaders last week to bar the media from covering a meeting between union officials and state IT employees. While a Face The State reporter was cleared by the state to attend the meeting, she was barred entry to the meeting by a front-office employee acting on orders from WINS staff. Our reporter, Rachel Boxer, had introduced herself only by name when the state employee interrupted and told her to leave the building, “immediately.” The union may lose its privileges to hold future meetings in one state department as a result.
Colorado WINS is a consortium of unions SEIU/CAPE, the American Federation of Teachers, and AFSCME. As FTS has previously reported, the unions' joint operating agreement calls for an aggressive effort to organize state workers with the goal of lobbying state government for increased wages and health benefits.
So what are labor leaders trying to hide? Wednesday’s meeting was ostensibly geared to address Ritter’s proposed consolidation of state IT resources. Union spokesperson Dawn Lee has offered to make available WINS policy analysts for interview, but that’s not the point. The unacceptable behavior of state employees acting on orders from union officials, rather than their departmental leaders, is.
Ritter should be quick to condemn the union's conduct and take steps to ensure such blatant violations of state policy never happen again. After all, the state would not be subject to such aggressive organizing efforts if it weren't for the Governor's union-boosting executive order.
Colorado WINS has not been named the official representative “partnership” association for any unit of state government. As such they are guests on state property. If these are the tactics employed to shroud their organizing and activism activities in secrecy, the state should waste no time in barring them from the premises, as they were quick to do with members of the press.
Colorado WINS
On April 9th, 2008 Shell says:
I read the articles printed and am upset Mr.Hoffa was compared to the union effort under WINS. The Teamsters have no association with Colorado WINS so why bring Mr. Hoffa into the picture. Colorado WINS does not give workers a choice. If elected by state employees, they won't have a choice. They are going to be stuck with the same organizations they have had around in the past and didn't do anything. Why would they do anything but collect dues now? State workers need to vote NO against WINS or keep losing more and more. If they are so strong why did they have to join together?? Ask yourself, "something is wrong here." The Teamsters are the way to go if you ask me. They are up front with no hidden agendas and stand alone for the betterment of people. No politics, no payment to politicians. How much was given to Governor Ritter for his campaign by the same people that want to represent you? All bought and paid for? Stay away from WINS.
Not True
On March 29th, 2008 tallport says:
I have no first hand knowledge of this meeting, but it is my understanding that it was not "the union" who asked the press person to leave and "the union" (state employees) cannot hold internal membership meetings during working hours. This editorial is a misplaced attack on labor for purely political reasons, which is why you have so much disdain for unions in the first place, because they normally support the people and party who support them, so what? Unions like businesses represent people and they allowed (generally) to be involved in politics. Get over it. The question to ask is where is the balance of influence on government? It is sure not with labor. Corporate influence on public policy is off the chart. That does mean it is always bad, but it means that such influence should swing both ways to promote the common interest. We union members intend to keep making that case. Your picture of Jimmy Hoffa of course intends to paint all unions as bad, which is nonsense and you know it. Not that you care about such important facts.
Congrats on your Westword award. Your site looks good too, but your editorial context is a electronic Bush clone. John McSame would be proud. Enough said.