Colorado AFL-CIO -- Employee Free Choice Act

Can We Create a Fair and Prosperous Economy For All?

Join religious leaders and union activists in Ft. Collins for an evening presentation with worker testimony about the Employee Free Choice Act—federal legislation that would help workers bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions without fear of illegal employer retaliation.

The event will end with a brief candlelight liturgy in honor of the 23 workers who are illegally fired and discriminated against every minute in America for their union activity.

Tuesday, June 9th
5:30pm-6:30pm
Christ United Methodist Church
In the Fellowship Hall
301 E. Drake Road, Ft. Collins
80525. 

Download IWJ Flyer for 5-09

Let’s rebuild an economy that works for all!

“You shall not withhold the wages of the poor
and needy laborers…”  Deuteronomy 24:14

Letters-to-the-editor

To write a letter-to-the-editor in support of Employee Free Choice, Click here!

Ally - Colorado Alliance for Retired Americans

 

CARA's Vivian Stovall interviewed outside a hearing to prevent an ATU 1001 strike

The Alliance for Retired Americans is 30,000 strong in Colorado. They focus on political issues that affect seniors. At present, their main focus is on education; community outreach and building capacity to deal with major legislative issues such as health care reform.

Vivian Stovall, President of the Colorado Alliance for Retired Americans, said that, "by 2010, the largest population in Colorado will be over 50." It is ARA's charge to mobilize seniors on the issues that matter to them.

In addition to issues such as Medicare, pensions and the Homestead Act, CARA is mobilizing around Employee Free Choice Act. Dave Jordan, for example, feels that the Employee Free Choice Act is important to rebuilding America's economy and restoring workers' rights. That is why Jordan joined thousands of Coloradans in writing letters to his Senators and has encouraged others to get involved to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

The Alliance of Retired Americans in Colorado is working on seniors' issues, but they are also fighting to preserve the quality of life for all Americans.

Businesses for Sustainable Economies

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Conference last weekend included pro-Employee Free Choice Act discussion.

Jobs with Justice and community activists teamed up to raise awareness and mobilize on the Employee Free Choice Act.

Take Action...

As you may have already heard, Governor Ritter vetoed House Bill 1170, a bill that would have restored a law that existed in Colorado for 30 years prior to 1999 that allows workers to collect unemployment benefits when locked out of their workplace.

We still do not know the fate of Senate Bill 180, which would allow collective bargaining rights for firefighters.

Please call the Governor's Office at (303) 866-2471 to ask him to sign Senate Bill 180 into law to support collective bargaining rights for firefighters.

GREEN JOBS ◊ GOOD JOBS

COME SEE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING FACILITY
UNIQUE TO COLORADO

To make the United States a world leader in renewable energy, we need the best-trained and most professional electrical workforce to get the job done. IBEW rises to the challenge.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
Invite you to explore how they are preparing workers for green jobs
by touring one of their
National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee’s (NJATC) Training Centers

Tuesday, May 26 - Friday May 29, 2009
8:00AM – 8:00PM
The open house will be held at:
Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Center
IBEW Local Union 68
1291 East 54th Avenue
Denver, CO 80216

Attend the Special Dedication Ceremony for the
Newly Installed Photovoltaic System with
Congressman Ed Perlmutter
Friday, May 29 at 2:00PM

The NJATC oversees 44,000 apprentices in training for careers in the renewable energy sector, including solar photovoltaic, wind, building automation, and other energy-efficiency and green job-related programs

*To RSVP or for more information, contact the Kathy Jordan at (720) 261-5427

Download IBEW Flyer

Veterans Speak out in Support of Employee Free Choice Act

Environmental Allies Bike to Bennet and Udall's Offices in Support of Employee Free Choice

Yesterday afternoon, a group of environmental allies and supporters of Employee Free Choice teamed up on a bike ride to Senator Bennet and Udall's offices in Denver. They delivered stacks of letters from environmentalists and community members alike. Their message was clear: "Pass the Employee Free Choice Act to combine good jobs with green/environmental jobs!"

Roger Singer (at left and pictured bottom right delivering letters in support of Employee Free Choice Act to Bennet's office) from the Sierra Club stated at Senator Udall's office that the time to turn around our country is now. He relayed the importance of combining good jobs with green environmental jobs and the fact that Colorado can and must lead the charge on this. Singer said that the environmental movement and the labor movement fit together naturally and they will continue to work to pass the Employee Free Choice Act which is mutually beneficial.

Ron Drews, a letter carrier in the Denver area, was in attendence at the bike ride and Senate office visits. He said, "We need to build an economy that works for everyone. The option to collectively bargain for livable wages is a good idea for everybody because as long as we are in a broken economy with Wal-mart wages, people cannot afford to invest in fuel-efficient homes, cars and everything else."

Arvada Letter Carriers Rock it Out!

NALC Branch 4405 in Arvada last night wrote several hand-written letters to Colorado Senators Bennet and Udall. This adds to their significant stack and an estimated 30%+ of membership who have involved themselves in supporting Employee Free Choice by writing letters.

Pictured left to right: Gayle Zaloz, Eileen Bristow, Rueben Ramirez. Gayle Zaloz has collected most of the letters - her persistence and dedication produce results! 

Letter-to-the-Editor

TELL IT TO THE CHIEFTAIN - May 18, 2009
Remember workers

Workers Memorial Day, April 28, is a day for all of us to remember workers who were killed on the job. It's also an opportunity for us to recognize that our nation's safety laws must be stronger and more thoroughly enforced.

A report from the AFL-CIO, entitled "Death on the Job" shows that 126 workers were killed in Colorado in 2007. Nationally, 5,657 workers lost their lives on the job and more than 4 million were injured.

After eight years of a federal administration that did little to strengthen - and much to undermine - basic protections for America's working men and women, it's a relief to have a new president who is committed to protecting worker's health and safety.

For the first time in almost a decade, we have the opportunity to strengthen the Occupational Safety and Health Administration by fighting for higher standards of protection for workers and stronger penalties for employers who violate the law and put workers in danger. It's also time to expand OSHA's protections to the millions of public employees, flight attendants and other workers who are not currently covered.

The way to accomplish this is by giving workers a voice in the work place. . . . We need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure this voice for all Americans.

Unions give workers a means for bargaining for higher health and safety standards and training as well as a living wage, health care and secure retirement benefits.

Please take a moment to remember the millions of workers who have been killed or hurt on the job. Join me in calling on Sen. Mark Udall, Sen. Michael Bennet and all of our elected leadership to pass the Employee Free Choice Act so that all working Americans can stand up and have a voice in their workplace.

Ami M. Nawrocki - Pueblo