State workers approve union representation

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/13/state-workers-approve-union-representation/

10,000 more soon will vote on whether to join
By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Friday, June 13, 2008

One in four state employees will now have union representation because of an election that ended Wednesday, and thousands more are expected to vote soon on whether to join them. But workplace changes - if there are any - are not expected for months, if not next year.

Over the past three weeks, the state sent ballots to more than 20,000 state workers - including secretaries, bridge engineers and snow plow drivers - asking whether they want Colorado WINS to represent them in negotiations with government employers.

A third of those workers mailed back ballots and 80 percent of them voted yes, said Colorado WINS spokeswoman Dawn Le.

In coming weeks, another group of more than 10,000 state employees will vote on whether they want to be represented by Colorado WINS.

New organization

Colorado WINS is a new organization composed of the American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Colorado Association of Public Employees - Service Employees International Union.

The union drive was made possible by an executive order signed in November by Gov. Bill Ritter. That order established recognition of state employee unions and allows for a nonbinding form of collective bargaining.

FULL story at link.