What makes a grassroots protest authentically "grassroots"? When is a political rally a genuine expression of citizen concern and not a thinly-veiled front for evil out-of-state interests?
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Unions
Follow this topic by RSSWestword's Melanie Asmar on UFCW Local 7
Westword staff writer Melanie Asmar sheds some light on the leadership battle raging within Colorado's grocery-workers union.
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12/4: Saying goodbye to the teachers' union
Teachers! You don't have to put up with the union playing politics with your money.
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11/20: Chaos at the grocery workers' union
Who's in control at Colorado's grocery-workers union? It's a tougher question than it sounds.
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Pelosi does Denver
Face The State takes you to Denver, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was busy touting the President's plan for health care "reform." Plus, a union rep gets hypocritical in his criticism of conservative activists.
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FTS on 1100 KNZZ: SEIU's hypocrisy
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1100 KNZZ weekend host Rick Wagner. Outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Thursday press conference in Denver, an organizer with the Service Employees International Union calls conservative activists "puppets." He's not too forthcoming with information about himself, however: he'd give only his first name, Mateos.
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8/6: Labor contracts break local gov't budgets
No raise this year for employees in the City of Boulder. Unless of course, you're in a union.
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Huttner: Conservative protesters are lemmings
July 29, 20097/24: Teachers' union priorities
You thought the teachers' union was about quality education for kids? Think again.
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7/20: Unions' fight to kill the secret ballot
Labor unions will fight to kill the secret ballot at all costs.
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Ballot initiative would neuter 'card check' in Colorado
A Face the State Staff Report
July 14, 2009
Unions have challenged the language of a ballot initiative that would amend the Colorado Constitution to guarantee employees' right to a secret ballot in unionization elections. Meanwhile, legislation is pending before Congress that would remove that requirement from federal law.
Political cartoon for 6/25: Mr. Oliver, union rep
Face The State Humor
June 25, 2009
Despite recent news the state will be short $384 million for the coming fiscal year, unions are ratcheting up the pressure for increases in wages and benefits. Colorado WINS, a consortium of 3 public-sector labor organizations "representing" state workers, piled on to news of the shortfall with tin cup in hand.
"Please, sir, I want some more."
Despite dismal budget forecast, Colorado WINS wants raise
June 24, 2009
Hours after the news broke that the state faces a $384 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year, the Colorado state employees’ union, Colorado WINS, asked the Joint Budget Committee for higher pay and benefits. Talk about awkward timing.
Rumor mill: Hick not alone in turning down Ritter primary
June 10, 2009The Denver Post reported this morning that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper refuses to primary Gov. Bill Ritter in 2010. But sources tell Face The State Hizzoner Hick isn't the only Democrat who has been courted for a primary challenge.
6/9: Boulder Valley teachers still not happy
Boulder Valley school teachers signed their new contract, and nobody likes it. Welcome to the new union logic.
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'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 6/8/09 - More fallout from SB 180; the crusading John Morse
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver. Will union interests fracture over Gov. Bill Ritter's 2010 re-election? And is state Sen. John Morse getting a little over-eager in his fight for Colorado's budgetary "soul"?
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Segment 2 - Firefighters lash out at Ritter after SB 180 veto
Lawmakers, union bosss and firefighters minced no words in their criticism of Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, following his veto of Senate Bill 180. The law would have eased the process by which firefighters in cities across Colorado may organize, doing away with the requirement for a public vote before a union is certified. Face The State's Brad Jones has analysis, with audio clips from state Sen. Lois Tochtrop, state Rep. Ed Casso, firefighters' union president Randy Atkinson, and former lawmaker and Colorado AFL-CIO executive director Mike Cerbo.
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Slideshow: Firefighters label Ritter 'liar' after SB 180 veto
A Face the State Staff Report
June 5, 2009
Firefighters and allied members of organized labor rallied Friday in protest of Gov. Bill Ritter's veto of Senate Bill 180, which would have paved the way for firefighters unions to organize in local jurisdictions without a public vote. View Face The State's photo slideshow of the press conference.
FTS on 600 KCOL: Fallout from Ritter's veto of SB 180
The morning is dominated by analysis of Gov. Bill Ritter's veto of Senate Bill 180, which would have paved the way for firefighters unions to take hold in cities around the state. Face The State visits with 600 KCOL morning hosts Keith & Gail to discuss.
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6/5: No love between unions, Ritter
Will big labor stand to back Gov. Bill Ritter for re-election?
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FTS on 1310 KFKA: A union rift
Face The State visits with 1310 KFKA morning show host George Gray for a look at state politics. Gov. Bill Ritter risks losing support from organized labor in his re-election bid next year after vetoing two union-related bills. His decision to spike both laws has been lauded by good-government groups and mayors, but leaves union bosses fuming. More on the Face The State Weekend Edition this Sunday at 6 am on 1310 KFKA.
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6/2: UFCW's hardball
Make no mistake, the grocery workers' union is making unreasonable demands over pay and benefits. Plain and simple.
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'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 6/1/09
FTS visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver for an extended update on state politics. Up this week: U.S. Senate hopeful Cleve Tidwell and Democrat incumbent Michael Bennet have very different campaign styles - and Bennet's brings in a heck of a lot more campaign cash. Gov. Bill Ritter faces some tough choices on legislation before Friday, and CU socks students with a new, $70 "Forever Buffs" fee.
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Liberal network steps up for grocery workers' union
June 1, 2009
An advertisement on the Denver Post Web site recently caught our attention. "Help grocery workers get a fair deal," it said, but just a click away was a link to ProgressNow's Web site, where visitors are asked to sign a petition in support of unionized grocery workers' quest for higher wages and benefits.
FTS on 600 KCOL: Gov. Bill Ritter's union troubles
Gov. Bill Ritter is facing some tough choices that could cost him the support of the Democrat's biggest financial backers: organized labor. With the recent veto of House Bill 1170, which would have granted locked-out union workers unemployment benefits, political observers are now curious as to the fate of Senate Bill 180, which would sidestep voters in the creation of public-safety unions. FTS managing editor Brad Jones discusses Ritter's conundrum with 600 KCOL morning hosts Keith & Gail.
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Segment 3 - Ben DeGrow on teachers union 'impasse' declarations, 'blue flu'
Independence Institute education policy analyst Ben DeGrow on recent "impasse" declarations by Colorado teachers unions, and the recent "sick-out" at Broomfield High School.
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FTS on 600 KCOL: An unexpected veto; FTS Weekend Edition preview
FTS staff writer Kate Melvin visits with 600 KCOL morning hosts Keith & Gail to talk state politics and preview Saturday's FTS Weekend Edition. Gov. Bill Ritter recently issued an unexpected veto of a bill to provide union workers unemployment benefits when locked-out from a workplace. Will his decision affect labor support for his re-election? And how will the controversy over Joe Blake's selection as CSU chancellor affect the university moving forward?
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FTS HUMOR: State of the Unions
Face The State Humor
May 22, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
There have been lots of news stories lately about unions. This really isn’t a very good sign for them. You never see positive union-related headlines. Nothing like: LOCAL UNION MEMBERS SAVE LITTER OF KITTENS FROM DROWNING.
5/18: Jeffco schools vs. teachers union
Jefferson County's teachers union is pushing hard for a big pay raise.
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Shady Joe taking heat at CSU
May 15, 2009
Colorado State University's recent announcement of the imminent appointment of Joe Blake as its new chancellor was positively greeted by supporters praising his fundraising capabilities. But now the outgoing president of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce is facing allegations that his hiring process was about as legit as his past dealings with Colorado unions.
Jeffco union rejects contract, declares impasse
A Face the State Staff Report
May 15, 2009
Contract negotiations between Jeffco Public Schools and its teachers union stalemated Thursday after the union’s board voted to reject the district’s most recent pay proposal.