Colorado AFL-CIO -- Employee Free Choice Act

Franken to Take Seat as Workers' Candidate

Photos here - Franken working for working people

Coleman concedes race to Franken

From Politico:

Republican Norm Coleman has conceded to Democrat Al Franken in the Minnesota Senate race, ending one of the longest Senate races in American history and clearing the way for Democrats to hold a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate.

 

Minnesota Supreme Court Rules for Franken

Minn. court rules for Franken in Senate fight

Minnesota Supreme Court Rules On Coleman's Appeal: He Lost, Franken Won The Election

STATEMENT BY AFL-CIO PRESIDENT JOHN SWEENEY ON THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT RULING

June 30, 2009

America’s workers congratulate Al Franken - and the people of Minnesota who have gone 226 days without a second Senator - for their unanimous victory today in the Minnesota Supreme Court.  

Working families are facing many challenges including a tough economy, lack of health care coverage and an out of balance economic system where workers do not have a voice at their job.  With these colossal issues at stake it is essential that Minnesotans have both their Senators to represent them and we urge Governor Pawlenty to immediately sign the election certificate so Franken can get to work.

The seating of Senator Franken is also a crucial step towards passing the Employee Free Choice Act that will allow workers to have a voice at work, lift their standard of living and build stronger communities as well as stronger families.  We urge the Senate to move forward swiftly on this crucial piece of legislation as well as health care reform, financial re-regulation and all the crucial issues facing working families.

Ludlow Tent Colony - National Historical Landmark Dedication

Yesterday, the Ludlow Memorial and Tent Colony, just south of Trinidad, Colorado was dedicated as a National Historic Landmark.

Each year, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) gather at this historic site to pay homage to the men, women and children who died in the historic Ludlow Massacre on April 20th, 1914.

This year was a particularly special year as the site has gained special recognition as a National Historic Landmark. It is one of only four National Historic Landmarks that remember labor history and is the only one that recognizes such a labor struggle.

Coal miners and their families in Ludlow died in 1914 when they went on strike in their struggle for union recognition. They were also striking for enforcement of the eight-hour work day, payment for "dead work" and the right to use any store; choose where they lived and to choose their doctors.

Speakers at the National Historic Landmark Dedication included Bob Butero (UMWA Region IV Director); Mike Cerbo (CO AFL-CIO Executive Director); Buffie McFadyen (Colorado State Representative); Mike Dalpiaz (UMWA International District 22 Vice President); James Green (Ph.D., Massachusetts University - LAWCHA); Elizabeth Jameson (Ph.D., Calgary University - LAWCHA); Daniel J. Kane (UMWA International Secretary-Treasurer); Cecil Roberts (UMWA International President) and Lisa Wegman-French (Senior Advisor to Ken Salazar - U.S. Secretary of the Interior).

Frank Petrucci (above right), whose three siblings died in the Ludlow Massacre, was present at yesterday's event.

UMWA President Cecil Roberts said about the Ludlow miners:

When they were discriminated against because they came from another part of the world - to fight that discrimination, they joined the United Mine Workers. When they were told they had to live in a company house, they joined the United Mine Workers. When they were told they had to go to the company store, they joined the United Mine Workers. When they were killed by the thousands, to fight that, they joined the United Mine Workers of America.

He added, "Thank God for the people of Ludlow, Colorado who had the courage to stand up and fight back" against injustice.

Photos here.

Colorado Springs ALC at Springs Spree - Mobilizing More Support for Employee Free Choice Act

On Sunday June 27th, the Colorado Springs Area Labor Council manned a booth at Springs Spree to tap into and mobilize support for health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act. 

Bill Hirni, 3rd Vice-President of IAFF #5 drove their Union-owned fire truck to the site.  The labor council was successful in tapping into small business support for the Employee Free Choice Act. Many small business owners added their names and businesses to the growing list of supporters for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Many Spree-goers also participated in "visual petitions" for health care reform.

PHOTOS HERE.

Spotlight: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)

ATU 1001 member activist Sonny Maestas and wife Eleanor

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) in Colorado has a deep understanding of how valuable the Employee Free Choice Act is. ATU joins other unions in Colorado in writing letters to their Senators in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Many ATU members struggle to settle a contract with their employers once they acheive formation of their union. This is a significant problem in the current labor law system - the inability for workers to bargain contracts in reasonable amounts of time. The Employee Free Choice Act would solve this problem by imposing binding arbitration in the event that a contract cannot be settled within 120 days.

Sonny Maestas, ATU 1001 member, spoke out at a faith and community hearing in Ft. Collins recently. He described his personal forming a union at his workplace. Although Maestas and his coworkers won their elections with an overwhelming majority, more than a year later, they still are trying to bargain a contract. This experience has become very frustrating for many of the members. Unfortunately, this in not an uncommon experience in America, where  many workers around the country endure after forming a union.

In fact, 44% of newly certified unions cannot obtain a first contract. So even when workers surmount all the obstacles and succeed in forming a union, employers often deny them the benefits of collective bargaining.

Maestas said:

“A year is too long, and that’s why I support the Employee Free Choice Act. We need to get that middle class back again, and I think the economy could be on its way back to recovery.”

Video here.

ATU 1001 President Holman Carter (right) with ATU member Chris Campbell during Labor 2008

ATU Local 1001 President Holman Carter said, "The Employee Free Choice Act is very important to us. One of the reasons, but certainly not the only reason, is that arbitration is incredibly important."

Whereas the current labor law system is simply not working for many union and non-union members, ATU joins varied coalitions in supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. In this way, we will rebuild a strong middle class, fairer workplaces and a fairer economy.

Photos here.

Respected Ally: Small Business Owner Carlos Chacon - Trinidad, Colorado

Carlos Chacon, owner of Chacon Insurance, Inc. is a strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act and displays a sign of support in is business’s front window. Chacon strongly supports the Employee Free Choice Act because it puts the choice back into rests with employers.

As a small business owner, Chacon supports the rights of workers to collectively bargain – it has worked well for him and for his family past and present and he strongly supports this right of workers to collectively bargain free from intimidation.

Chacon feels that the public could be more educated on the issue of the Employee Free Choice Act. He sees ads and propaganda from Wal-mart and the Chamber of Commerce and it reminds him of business backlash when Colorado increased its minimum wage.

Chacon said, “The first thing people say in these instances is ‘McDonalds is going to have to let go all these people.’ But the truth is that they keep increasing their prices and their profits and none of it is going to the workers. Once the increase in minimum wage passed, nothing like that happened.” Despite these 'sky is falling' messages, Chacon holds strong to his support of workers' rights in the workplace.

Carlos Chacon follows his Colorado Senators on this issue and looks forward to their support of working Coloradans on this issue.

Legislative Update

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION GRANTED IN LAWSUIT AGAINST AMENDMENT 54

Denver, CO – Judge Catherine Lemon granted a preliminary injunction today against Amendment 54 after plaintiffs arguing for the repeal of the amendment concluded their testimony in Denver District Court.  The plaintiffs alleged that the amendment, which was narrowly approved by Colorado voters last fall, would have been unconstitutional.

Amendment 54 would have prohibited campaign contributions from labor unions and holders of sole source government contracts, and the plaintiffs contended that the prohibition violated their rights to free speech and association under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

The lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs requests that the defendants – Governor Bill Ritter and the Executive Director of the Department of Personnel and Administration – be enjoined from implementing or enforcing Amendment 54.  Judge Lemon sided with the plaintiffs and granted the preliminary injunction.
While issuing the order of injunction, Judge Lemon stated, “In my mind, it’s not a close case.”

Next steps may include a full hearing on the merits of the case or the defendants may appeal the injunction.

“We are excited that the injunction has been granted and feel confident that we laid out the facts of the case in a way that clearly demonstrates that Amendment 54 is unconstitutional” stated Jean Dubofsky, former Colorado Supreme Court Judge and one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. “We are confident that future court rulings will agree.”

Over the course of the two-day hearing, three witnesses testified for the plaintiffs and the defense called no witnesses.

WE REMEMBER AND WE HONOR - the Ludlow Memorial Dedication this Weekend

This Sunday, the Ludlow Memorial will be dedicated as a national historic landmark.

Please join us as we make the trek to the Ludlow memorial (Near Trinidad) to meet, socialize and participate in a half day workshop with fellow Union members and community activists from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.  This will be an overnight event so bring your sleeping bags and tent OR you can stay at the Super 8 of Trinidad at the rate we've secured for $65.99.

Download Leadership Workshop and Dedication Flyer

Download Ludlow Workshop Plan

Workshop topics include:
Saturday June 27th

1:00 pm Welcome, overview, Ludlow and Local Unions History
2:30 pm Build and Leave a Legacy-add more meaning and purpose to your life
3:30 pm Solidarity-The Strength of Unions’ and the Middle Class-building effective coalitions with all Unions and Community activists organizations
5:00 pm Legislative/Political Action-learning how to maintain the victories of the 2008 elections
6:00 pm Dinner (Fresh, home made tamales and all the fixins)
7:00 pm Organizing, Recruiting, Leadership Development-the difference between formal authority and morale leadership
8:00 pm Movie: “F.I.S.T.”
Candle Light Observance. At the conclusion of the Saturday workshop, we will line the massacre site and
18 people will say the name of a massacre victim as their candle is lit, then all remaining candles will be lit as we read the events of the massacre.

Sunday June 28th

Breakfast (Fresh, home made breakfast burritos)
Historic enrichment classes
Guest speakers: National UMWA President Cecil Roberts, Rep. Buffie McFayden, UMWA Regional President Robert Butero, the legendary Norm Pledger, UMWA Local #9856 President Mike Romero, Colorado AFL-CIO Executive Director Mike Cerbo and other elected officials & academics.

10:00 am - Induction of the Ludlow Memorial into the National Registry of Historic Landmarks

12:00 pm - BBQ lunch provided by United Mine Workers
Graduation ceremony for those that attend the Saturday workshop
Lunch

Motel reservations at discounted rate for "Labor Weekend Workshop" - call Super 8 in Trinidad 1-719-846-8280

Questions, comments or ideas, send an e-mail to unionchuck@hotmail.com or call (719) 232-3373
Chuck Bader Jr, Political/Legislative Director
Colorado Springs Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO
P.O. Box 17577
Colorado Springs, CO 80935-7577
Cell (719) 232-3373