Progress Now Action

The new web site is up, www.protectcoloradosfuture.org. This organization is in place to help us defeat the work for less lobby. Please sign up as a member and help us stand up against these attacks on middle America.

At the heart of the divide is the typical false premise that giving employees contractual rights is not good for them. This is already an "at will" state where most employees can be fired anytime for almost anything, ie, without "just cause", but that is not good enough for the work-for-less lobby, the so called "right to work" crowd. They are is a conglomerate of powerful corporate entities with a front group based in Virginia. Their purpose is to cripple labor unions and to keep the practice of democracy in the workplace an elusive goal for as many people as they can. They will demonize unions with double talk and clever slogans and glorify union busting under the scared umbrella of all that is "business friendly".

Employees in work for less states make an average of $5,333 less than those in free bargaining states. Their benefits are greatly decreased and their job security is generally non-existent. Unionized workers are simply better off and claims to the contrary ignore the basic facts. A key point is that labor activists bear no ill-will towards business or fair levels of profit. We understand that business and labor are mutually beneficial partners when balance and cooperation exist. Those of us who represent labor seek only to empower employees as an inclusive component of business and not as an expendable tool.

The individual freedom argument used work for less lobby and others is a sham. Federal law already protects the rights of non-members. Nobody has to join a union or engage in union activities that violate their religious or political beliefs. In a union shop however, the democratic principle of majority rule does require non-members to pay a fair share expense fee if they choose not to join the union.

Organized labor is a primary avenue to bridge economic inequality and the imbalance of opportunity between average people and Wall street. The labor haters should stop pretending to care about workers by branding labor unions as the enemy. Anybody who takes a non-political look at the facts knows who is truly on the side of employees and that is the unions who set the standards for labor protections.

Cross Posted (partially) Colorado Confidential

The current system for forming unions and bargaining is broken. Corporations routinely block workers' freedom to decide for themselves whether to form unions to bargain by intimidating, harassing, coercing and even firing workers.

The Employee Free Choice Act would restore workers' freedom to make our own choice about whether to have a union and bargain for a better life--without interference from management. The legislation, which the House has passed, would:

* Strengthen penalties for companies that coerce or intimidate workers;

* Establish mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract; and

* Enable workers to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards.

* Bring needed balance to the American workplace.

Today, CEOs get contracts that protect their pay and benefits--but they fight tooth and nail to keep workers from having the same opportunity. As a result, good jobs are vanishing and health care coverage and retirement security are slipping out of reach. Only 38 percent of the public say their families are getting ahead financially, and less than a quarter think the next generation will be better off.

This bill passed the House. Please contact your Senator to urge their support. This legislation is vital to the progressive movement .

We had a little fun with 'Foxy' the fox today... NO, not That Kind of Fun!

We heard that Frontier was doing a Campaign Interview style promo for the 'Foxy' Frontier's Favorite Animal at the Civic Center today across from the City Hall. So we thought this would be great test of our Concept of Instant Vigils.

We flew downtown and did a 'one indian' to their 'circle the wagons' maneuver. The media types applauded my arrival but grumbled later when they had trouble getting a shot without our signs in the background.

Our sign on one side said.

Call Foxy and tell her to
Stop the Iraq War
and impeach Bush

and on the other side

Call Foxy and say
Stop the War and
impeach Bush.

Amazing the amount of eyeballs these signs got.

It was Fun...
you all shoulda been there.

Maybe next time, eh! Join Us.
Impeachment can be fun.

John

WeeklyVigilsToImpeach.Us
Link

ProgressNowAction Member
Link

Hi Campaign for Responsible Development Allies,

Our campaign at the Gates Rubber Factory redevelopment is entering the final countdown. We've been negotiating with the developer, Cherokee, to make sure that the Gates/Cherokee redevelopment has good jobs with healthcare, thorough environmental cleanup, affordable and accessible housing, and responsible construction.

Thus far, the developer Cherokee has not committed to making all of the jobs be good jobs with healthcare benefits. They've agreed to pay prevailing wages and healthcare to the workers who do the demolition and the infrastructure, but we think that since Cherokee will be receiving 85 million dollars of public money, every job on this project should be a family-supporting job with healthcare!

We want to turn up the heat on on this issue, so we're having a call-in day to City Council members to urge Cherokee to negotiate!

Please support the CRD and call your City Councilperson as soon as possible! Please let us know of any contacts you make and what kinds of responses you are getting from your city council people. If you have any questions about who your City Councilperson is, you can check online here . If you'd like more information about the Campaign for Responsible Development, visit our website.

Thanks so much for all your support - together, we can win this!

In Solidarity,

Julie Gonzales
CRD Organizer



Talking Points/Script for Coalition Partners Calling City Council Members

Hi Councilwoman/man _________________, this is _______________ (your name) calling to talk to you about the Gates/Cherokee Redevelopment and the Campaign for Responsible Development.

At this point, the CRD has made progress with Cherokee in their negotiations around environmental cleanup and affordable housing, but we still do not have a formal commitment from Cherokee about quality jobs.

I hope that you ensure that all the construction jobs, and the permanent jobs - many of which will otherwise be low paying retail jobs -are good family supporting jobs with healthcare.

If we are going to be giving 85 million dollars to Cherokee to finance this project, then we should expect that every job at the redevelopment is a quality job!

Thank you for your time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please help the CRD by letting us know about your conversations with City Council members. Give Julie Gonzales, CRD Organizer, a call at 303-477-6111x17 or email jgonzales@denverlabor.org. Again, we appreciate your efforts in making sure that the Gates/Cherokee redevelopment is beneficial for everyone in our community!

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Council Contact Information:

District 1
Rick Garcia
2785 Speer Blvd., Suite 246
Denver, Colorado 80211
Phone: (303) 458-4792
Fax: (303) 458-4791
rick.garcia@ci.denver.co.us

District 2
Jeanne Faatz
3100 S. Sheridan Blvd., Unit D
Denver, Colorado 80227
Phone: (303) 763-8562
Fax: (303) 763-8564
jeanne.faatz@ci.denver.co.us

District 3 - Council President
Rosemary E. Rodriguez
69 Knox Ct.
Denver, Colorado 80219
Phone: (303) 922-7755
Fax: (303) 937-4651
rosemary.rodriguez@ci.denver.co.us

District 4
Peggy Lehmann
6740 E. Hampden Avenue
Suite 302
Denver, Colorado 80224
Phone: (303) 504-5781
Fax: (303) 504-5786
peggy.lehmann@ci.denver.co.us

District 5
Marcia Johnson
6740 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80220
Phone: (303) 355-4615
Fax: (303) 355-4127
marcia.johnson@ci.denver.co.us

District 6
Charlie Brown
2324 E. Exposition Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80209
Phone: (303) 871-0601
Fax: (303) 698-4908
charlie.brown@ci.denver.co.us

District 7
Kathleen MacKenzie
1437 Bannock St., Suite 451
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: (720) 865-8900
Fax: (720) 865-8903
kathleen.mackenzie@ci.denver.co.us

District 8
Elbra Wedgeworth
3280 Downing St., Unit C
Denver, Colorado 80205
Phone: (303) 298-7641
Fax: (303) 298-9716
elbra.wedgeworth@ci.denver.co.us

District 9
Judy H. Montero
2828 Speer Blvd., Suite 111
Denver, Colorado 80211
Phone: (303) 458-8960
Fax: (720) 865-9540
District 10
Jeanne Robb
1232 E. Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80218
Phone: (303) 377-1807
Fax: (303) 377-1902
jeanne.robb@ci.denver.co.us

District 11
Michael B. Hancock
4730 Oakland St., Suite 200
Denver, Colorado 80239
Phone: (303) 331-3872
Fax: (303) 331-3874
michael.hancock@ci.denver.co.us

At-Large
Carol Boigon
1437 Bannock St., Suite 451
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: (720) 865-8100
Fax: (720) 865-8103
carol.boigon@ci.denver.co.us

At-Large
Doug Linkhart
1437 Bannock St., Suite 451
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: (720) 865-8000
Fax: (720) 865-8003
linkhartatlarge@ci.denver.co.us

Commercials, commercials, commercials... It is amazing that people fall for the lies.

Here it is folks, read it and weep! The memo outlines that we must cut $365,000,000 from the 06-07 budget if Referendum C fails. Take a look at the programs and the numbers… this is what is coming… IT DOES AFFECT YOU!
READ THE MEMO!!! Here are some "highlights":

"…included are the savings from reducing Corrections and Higher Education by 10 percent, which would generate $53.3 million and $59.8 million, respectively. However, given the fundamental impracticality and the public safety impacts of the cuts in Corrections, it is likely that a minimum 20 percent cut in Higher Education, as well as other cuts not proposed herein would be necessary to balance the FY 2006-07 budget if Referendum C fails." {page 1}

"Eliminate Motorist Insurance Identification Database" {page 4}
"Eliminate Instant Criminal Background Check" {page 5}
"Eliminate Office for Victims Programs" {page 5}
"Eliminate Office of Domestic Violence and Sex Offender Management" {page 5}
"... the [Natural Resources] Department has indicated that this would entail permanently closing 11 state parks..." {page 5}
"Eliminate the Poison Control Hotline" {page 6}

But thats not all.... READ THE MEMO and Forward this to EVERYONE YOU KNOW!