Full text transcript and audio of the exchange between a Fieldworks employee and an undercover FTS reporter in which the signature gatherer lies about the impact of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative.
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TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS:
Signature Gatherer: Excuse me m’am are you registered to vote in Colorado?
FTS Reporter: Uh, yes.
SG: I have these petitions that I’m trying to get on the ballot in November, and one of them is to stop corporate fraud for the case like Joe Nacchio and Qwest. We are trying to get it for them to take more responsibility for the crimes they have been committing. And then the second one that I’ve got is for “Just Cause.” That’s just saying that we would like to see that when an employer fires or lays somebody off they give a reason why.
FTS: Ok
SG: And then…
FTS: You’ve got like a lot of them
SG: I’ve got four of them, so
FTS: Oh what are the other ones?
SG: The other one that I’ve got is for, um, to protect programs like job training programs, summer job programs, programs for certain genders, um, like programs for women. And also…
FTS: Oh what are those?
SG: Well like any type of program, like say like a job-training program for women for a certain position that normally women wouldn’t be considered for. We would just like to protect programs like that because right now there is a guy out in California and I can’t remember his last name but he is trying to put quotas on programs that we have.
FTS: Oh really?
SG: And like take them away, so we are just trying to challenge that and protect them.
FTS: Oh, so wait, how is yours different from that one? It won’t – It doesn’t put quotas? Or it does put quotas?
SG: No it doesn’t. We’re trying to keep it the way that it is. That way everyone is being equally treated. And…
FTS: Oh is that like the affirmative action one?
SG: Yes. Yes it is.
FTS: Oh ok. So wait, what does that one do? It gets rid of?
SG: It protects the program instead of allowing for them to come in and add quotas to it or take them away. It protects them.
FTS: So it’s like a California guy not like a..
SG: I can’t remember what his name is.
FTS: So it’s not even a Colorado initiative?
SF: No! And you know it’s kind of crazy cause it’s like there are programs for certain races like say Latinas or African American or whatever, so it was – and he’s black, so it’s kind of amazing that he would want to try to take programs like that away from minorities and stuff like that. So we’re just trying to protect it.
FTS: Oh, so this one, what does this one say?
SG: Oh this is the one about – that one is the corporate fraud one, that’s the one about, um, Joe Nacchio.
FTS: Oh ok.
SG: So that way you know taxpayers aren’t…. This is the affirmative action one.
FTS: (Reading) Ok. Oh ok. So this one keeps affirmative action?
SG: Yes
FTS: Oh ok.
SG: And right now we are just trying to get the petition signed so we can safely get it on the ballot. And once they start voting then that gives everyone a chance to actually vote for it if they want to.
FTS: And this effects which women’s programs you said?
SG: Like job training programs for women or even positions in certain companies for women, um, battered women’s shelters. So…
FTS: Oh this – the other one would get rid of battered women’s shelters?
SG: Yes. Yes. And this would keep them.
FTS: This will keep battered women’s shelters? Ok.
SG: Yes, and like summer job programs and so forth.
FTS: Oh wow. Um, I normally don’t sign stuff like this, but, um, I don’t know. Let me think about that. I forgot something I have to go back and get, but I’ll be back. But thank you.
SG: Yeah. Like I said it’s just to try and get it on the ballot. And then if you decide you that don’t want to vote for something like it you don’t have to once it comes time for elect – you know to vote and stuff like that.
FTS: That’s, uh, crazy that the other one will, like, eliminate battered women’s shelters. Like what else would it do?
SG: Um, just like it would, like, as far as putting quotas, like, so many people would be – would be able to be a part of programs like that. Like, like, I know, like, a program that I’ve been involved with is like a construction program. So normally that’s a guy thing, but because I would be willing to do something like that and enjoy that they have a program to train women for that, so that women are qualified to do that type of work, so if this guy comes in and it passes to where he puts quotas on our – takes it away all together then we’re left out with none of that. You know? Or like minorities. I’m Mexican, and so like if I – you know, sometimes it can be challenging, but there’s programs to help. And as long as you take the initiative to get yourself involved with programs and stuff like that then you are being treated equally. So it’s just that’s the kind of help you get, you know?
FTS: Ok, well thank you for explaining it to me. I’ll be back later and look for you.