Mountain States Employers Council, Two Chambers Endorse Amendment 47

Despite its woes in court, Colorado’s right-to-work initiative, which will appear on the November ballot as Amendment 47, has garnered endorsements from the Mountain States Employers Council and two chambers of commerce.

If approved, the Colorado Right to Work Initiative would change the state constitution by outlawing arrangements requiring employees to join a union or requiring them to pay fees for union representation whether or not they are members of the union.

“Our mission is to support effective employee/employer relations, and Amendment 47 will help us advance that goal,” said Michael G. Severns, president and CEO of the Mountain States Employers Council Inc. The Denver-based employers council has more than 2,700 members.

The Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce and the Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce have also announced endorsements for the initiative.

“Amendment 47 will help Colorado in many different ways,” said Annick Pruett, the Rifle Chamber executive director. “It will give workers additional freedoms. It will provide incentives to attract new businesses and new jobs. And it will strengthen Colorado as a place that’s business friendly and ready for strong economic growth.”

The initiative currently has the support of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors and has received major financial backing from Jonathan Coors, director of CoorsTek and a member of the Colorado brewing family.

“The right-to-work amendment is at the very core of the ABC merit shop philosophy—freedom of choice,” said Mark Latimer, president and CEO of ABC-RMC. “Just as companies should have the right to work on a job, regardless of labor affiliation; that same right should be given to employees.”

The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce have come out against the initiative, as well as the Colorado Contractors Association, which believes right-to-work is one of many potentially destructive initiatives to appear on the November ballot.

“There is much more to be lost for the business community than gained in this risky and costly game that is being played-out on the November ballot,” said Tony Milo, executive director of CCA. “In the event that these initiatives make it on the ballot, we must prepare to vigorously fight the numerous labor counter measures that if approved will devastate businesses across Colorado.”

In late May, Protect Colorado’s Future coalition filed a post-certification signature challenge lawsuit against A Better Colorado, the proponents of the right-to-work initiative. The group claims that among the signatures filed were many duplicates and signatures of unregistered voters. Jess Knox, director of Protect Colorado’s Future, hopes the District Court will remove Amendment 47 from the ballot.