Previously I wrote about Amendment 47 here in Colorado, giving you some background, what it's really about, and what it would really do to workers. Now I'm going to talk a bit about the messaging being used by the campaign for this anti-labor bill, and show how it's all a smoke-screen. I did a little bit of this in the last diary, but now I can show you that this smoke screen is in fact covering up a fire meant to consume labor unions and burn them to the ground.
Considering the language of Amendment 47 isn't telling the truth by the third sentence
No person shall, as a condition of employment, be required to: be a member of a labor union;
you have to wonder about the motives of the the entire campaign. Federal law already outlaws this going back to 1947, and state law back to 1943.
Their messaging is based around:
Protect Worker Rights and the Freedom to Choose
However, isn't it a right of workers to decide what kind of union they want? A bit of background for those who aren't up on this measure. The Colorado Labor Peace Act (pdf) sets up a unique second vote when establishing a union. If a super majority of 75% votes for it, then non-members must contribute some fees to support the bargaining process and filing grievances. If the vote fails, non-members don't have to pay a dime, but they do get that union support. Amendment 47 would do away with this vote. So, workers already have plenty of choices and freedom to decide what kind of union they want. Amendment 47 would also then nullify parts of contracts already established by these super majorities of workers. It sounds more like Amendment 47 takes away rights and choices Colorandans have had since 1943.
Another line from the backer's website (abettercolorado.com, I'm not linking to them, thank you very much) says, "This November, Colorado voters will have the opportunity to decide whether workers in the state will be free to choose for themselves whether or not to join a union. It's Amendment 47, the Colorado Right to Work Amendment." Again, lying about long established law on the books in Colorado. Here we also see the name commonly used for these amendments. There's even a national right to work committee who works to get these measures passed in various states. They've put at least $200,000 into this battle in Colorado.
Other key messages from the site's front page:
* Protects worker paychecks by ending the practice of forcing workers to pay dues that support political causes without their consent..
Again, a complete fabrication. Members and non-members have always been able to assert their Beck rights to limit their contributions to a union.
So now that I've ripped to shreds their messaging, let me show you what they're really about. A certain other blogger (Hi Dave) forwarded me a letter he received from the National Right to Work Committee. On page 1 it says:
Right now, The Big Labor Brass at the AFL-CIO are spending hundreds of millions of forced-dues dollars to seize total control of our federal government in November...But unless you and I act today, big Labor's dream of stamping a union label on the White House, increasing its majority in the U.S. House and installing a filibuster-proof U.S. Senate may very well become reality
The letter is actually meant to target Congressman and Senate candidate Mark Udall and praise Bob Schaffer his opponent, but it's clear this committee cares nothing about freedom and choices for workers. Their main goal is to get union membership and power to zero. That's it. The next time these folks come talking about benefiting folks like Joe the plumber, run far away.
This letter was sent to owners of businesses regardless of party affiliation. Dave is a registered Democrat. The campaign is telling the general population one thing, and quite a different message is being sent to their bosses.
Disclosure: I am working to defeat Amendment 47.