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Labor and Work Relations Issues Unions and Employees Right to Organize: I grew up an a union household. My Dad was a bus driver for a Chicago metro area transit system. Unions have made a significant difference in the growth of our nation. Their accomplishments need to be respected and protected. Unions lead to a better life for both members and non-members. The benefits of being a union worker include better pay, healthcare, pension plans, and disability benefits; a say in working conditions; and written contracts. All CEO’s get contracts. Why shouldn’t workers? Studies show that 60 million people would join a union if they could. Unions raise everyone’s standard of living including non-union workers. Union membership lifts people and families out of poverty. Unions raise the standards for entire society. Union members are more engaged and involved in civic activities. They are politically active. Unfortunately, the influence unions once had has declined over the years as membership has declined. Now prior achievements are at risk. More than at any time in recent history, working people are trying to join together in unions to win better pay, health care and retirement security, safer jobs and time for their families and communities. Yet in workplace after workplace, employers routinely block workers’ freedom to choose a union. Nationally, in 91 percent of efforts by workers to organize unions, employers force employees to attend anti-union meetings designed to “change” employees’ minds. In 80 percent of efforts, employers use supervisors to pressure working people in one-on-one meetings. In 31 percent of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections, employers illegally fire workers for supporting a union. Public opinion polls show most Americans believe such employer tactics are wrong. Colorado is one of the most difficult places to organize workers, mainly because the "Colorado Labor Peace Act" forces workers to hold two separate elections to form a union. The first, to pass the union by a majority vote, then a second election (requiring 75% of the vote!) to pass a union security clause, which makes sure that all who are served by the union, pay dues or fees to the union. Colorado is the only state in the union requiring this second election. I will support pro-labor initiatives such as the Employee Free Choice Act. I believe strongly in the right of workers to organize without fear of reprisal. I understand that unions not only improve the lives of the members and their families but also improve the lives of all citizens. They stand for better work environments; better, more equitable pay; better pensions; and stronger remedies for worker grievances. Unions stand for the working man. So do I. Respect for the individual is one of my campaign’s core values and defending workers’ rights is part of that core value. As a senator, I will work to improve workers rights and preserve the gains already achieved. I believe everyone should have the right to organize and explore options related to union representation without fear of employer intimidation. We live in a free country and one of our greatest freedoms is freedom of association which to me included the right of workers to organize, to join together for collective bargaining. I believe this applies to all citizens including public employees. When I am elected, I will work to uphold this principle. I will support the workers right to safe workplace procedures and rules. I would stand with workers and support their rights. As a Senator, I will embrace policies which advance workers collective bargaining rights and sanctions for employers who violate workers rights including previous agreements. I believe so-called “Right to Work” initiative is really the right of workers to work for less money, in poorer and less safe work environments, with no right to address grievances. This is really a right for employers to break unions and destroy collective bargaining. I oppose the "Right to Work" initiative and ask my supporters to do the same. Workers should be able to choose to pool their resources in order to have a collective voice relative to their size as a group. Employers group together as industry groups where they have an enormous influence on government. Employees should be able to do the same. Public employees did not forfeit their rights as citizens to become a public employee. They should be able to pool their resources to have a voice. I oppose attempts to restrict campaign contribution from public employees. Current procurement standards evaluate contract bids based on the bid price. I support using other qualifications other than just lowest bid gets the contract. Procurement bids should be competitive where the bid price relative to other bidders is only one of the criteria used to evaluate a proposal. Other criteria which would be considered include the use of local resources and suppliers, use of small businesses including minority owned and woman owned businesses, and a commitment to safe work environments and positive worker benefits and rights. The state procurement process needs to be much easier for small business to participate. That being said, when small businesses participate, we need to know that workers safety and other rights have not been sacrificed. We need to include broader criteria for evaluating a bid to ensure the winners of state contracts provide a quality service or product while maintaining safe, non-hostile work environments where workers are treated with respect, will be able to voice grievances and expect those grievances will be addressed and know that they will be secure in their jobs. We are facing an environmental emergency where we need action now to save our planet. We are all citizens of Earth. Employers and employees should work as partners to reduce their environmental “footprint” of their work. We must all work together to go “green.” As we turn “green” solutions to save our planet, we as Coloradans, as a nation and globally, will need to protect the past achievements made in workers’ rights. We can not permit employers to pose a false choice between green solutions and economic growth, between green solutions and workers’ rights. “Green” solutions need to also be safe. “Green” solutions can not mean solutions that restrict workers rights to bargain collectively for better pay and benefits, for better working conditions, for the right for redress for grievances. My core values include “Respect for the Individual” including defending workers’ rights. I will always align my position on policy with my core values. I will always use my core values as my guide as Senator regardless of issue. Unions play a role with their members in identifying and implementing workplace improvements which will reduce the environmental impact of production. Unions should be seen as part of the solution. They help workers be part of the solution, make sure the solution is fair, and understand and accept their responsibilities. Including the unions in the solution planning process will lead to better, more efficient and productive solutions and increase the probability that the objectives of the solution will be achieved. Please click the link below to share your thoughts about this issue. Click here to send comments about issue - Labor and Worker Relations |
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