Three anti-union ballot issues threaten CEA and education employees

Anti-union, anti-employee groups are backing three initiatives on the November 2008 ballot that threaten the rights of CEA members and public school employees, as well as all workers in Colorado.

#49 would prohibit public employees from paying their union dues by payroll deduction, the longtime, accepted method of union dues payment in Colorado. This measure and #59 are backed by the Independence Institute and State Senator Nancy Spence (R-Centennial). (Before it qualified for the ballot, this measure's number was 53. On the ballot it will appear as 49.)

#59 has not qualified for the ballot yet, though its supporters turned in signatures by the initiative deadline of August 4. It would prevent unions and many others from participating in the political process by declaring that "sole source government contractors" cannot contribute to candidates and ballot issues. Signatures are due August 4 for this measure.

#47 would make Colorado a "right to work" state and prevent our local associations, as well as other unions, from negotiating collective bargaining contract provisions commonly called agency fee or fair share. #47 is backed by Jonathan Coors, Aurora City Council member Ryan Frazier, and a host of anti-union people and organizations outside of Colorado.

CEA and all of organized labor are in a well funded campaign, Protect Colorado's Future, where we are working to defeat these measures on November 4.

Protect Colorado's Future