South Metro Chamber 2008 Initiatives Position

Legislative Action Committee

2008 Colorado Right-to-Work and Union Initiatives

Chamber Position:

The South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of our 1,600 member companies, has taken the position to support the current Colorado Labor Peace Act governing business and labor relations.  As a result, we oppose all current initiatives seeking to disrupt our management/labor relations including the Right-to-Work and all of the union-backed initiatives.

We have taken this position for the following reasons;

1. The Colorado Labor Peace Act has served Colorado well for over 60 years and represents a balanced compromise between Right-to-Work and Closed Shop advocates. 

2. Colorado currently enjoys a relatively frictionless management-labor environment with approximately 8-9% of our workforce currently belonging to unions (2-3% in the private sector).

3. Because of current economic conditions, Colorado businesses and its citizens would be best served by channeling our precious resources and energy into more important endeavors that could bolster our economy.

4. The current Right-to-Work and Union-backed initiatives are being driven by extreme ideologies and special interest funding and ignore what is best for Colorado’s economy and citizens.

5. The current initiatives, if passed, will dramatically alter Colorado’s business climate and negatively impact our economy.

There will be no winners if these initiatives pass as Colorado will be effectively closed for business.

We call for all parties to stand down.
We call for cooperation over opposition.
We call for peace over unnecessary and harmful conflict.
We call for true leadership.

Related News Articles & Documents:

Colorado Labor Peace Act (Document)

Right-to-work issue raises concerns among Miller Brewing workers - 05/09/2008 Denver Business Journal

Unions Reach Out to Expand War Chest  - 05/07/2008 Denver Post

Labor initiatives fought - 04/29/2008 Denver Post

Right-to-work proposal gets support from contractors group - 4/22/2008 Denver Business Journal

Business climate in state would instantly worsen - 4/19/2008 Rocky Mountain News

Union membership in Colorado up during 2007 – 4/18/2008 Denver Business Journal

Why so stubborn?' - 04/18/2008 Rocky Mountain News

'Right-to-work' impact in question - 04/16/2008 Rocky Mountain News

Ritter wants to keep Peace - 04/15/2008 Denver Post

South chamber opposes right-to-work and other initiatives  -04/14/08 Denver Business Journal

Right-to-work petitions delivered - 04/09/2008 Denver Post

Right-to-work bid keeping finances veiled, unions say - 04/09/2008 Denver Post

Ritter no fan of COLA measure - 04/07/2008 Denver Post

Right-to-work effort draws formal complaint - 04/05/2008 Denver Post

Salazar gets to work on labor, business deal - 04/04/2008 Denver Post

Biz, labor urged to work it out - 04/02/2008

Union group backs ballot initiatives - 04/01/2008

Leadership Coalition for Labor Peace Act

US Senator Ken Salazar Letter to South Metro Chamber - April 18, 2008

For more information regarding these or other pertinent legislative issues or to join the LAC and automatically receive meeting notices and other legislative information, please e-mail Bart Sayyah bsayyah@bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.

South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce
6840 South University Blvd, Centennial, CO 80122
Directions to the Chamber Center
Staff & Board Contact Directory
(303) 795-0142 | (303) 795-7520 fax
John Brackney, President
jbrackney@bestchamber.com
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