Press Release
September 9, 2008
Principle over convenience
47 backers: Voters will decide
DENVER – The backers of Amendment 47 today declared, in no uncertain terms, that the Colorado Right to Work Amendment will be on the ballot in November.
According to Colorado state law, only Julian Cole and Ryan Frazier, the proponents of the ballot measure, can pull Amendment 47 off the ballot.* Both were very clear that they have no intention of doing so.
"Amendment 47 is a freedom issue for every worker in Colorado," Cole said. "To pull the measure before the November election would be insulting to every person who is relying on Amendment 47 to end the corruptive practice of forced unionism.
"It's too important to pull the measure on the whim of those very people who are working against the best interests of Colorado workers. It's ironic that some of those urging us to remove Amendment 47 are the same people who claim to fight for workers' rights."
Frazier, an Aurora city councilman, added: "Our research shows that voters overwhelmingly support the freedom that Amendment 47 will provide Colorado workers. In that light, the Amendment 47 campaign will continue to run a positive campaign aimed at giving voters accurate information on the benefits of Amendment 47."
Both Cole and Frazier stressed that Amendment 47 will have enough funds to run an effective and winning campaign.
"The journey of Right to Work in Colorado began with a great deal of soul searching, careful consideration and a commitment to the principles this country was founded on," Frazier said. "That journey continues because Amendment 47 is the right thing to do for our state. Principle must never be trumped by convenience."
Linda Daniels works at Kaiser Permanente in Denver and is forced to pay monthly union dues against her will. She's a strong proponent of Amendment 47.
"I'’ve been in the union for 12 years, and I understand the value that some unions provide to their workers," Daniels said. "But every worker deserves the freedom to choose whether or not to be in a union.
"I applaud the backers of Amendment 47 in their principled fight to keep the issue on the ballot. It's an amendment that Colorado workers need. To pull the measure for any reason would leave thousands of workers like me stuck in the same unfair, forced-union position."
*C.R.S § 1-40-134. Withdrawal of initiative petition -- The designated representatives of the proponents of an initiative petition may withdraw the petition from consideration as a ballot issue by filing a letter with the secretary of state requesting that the petition not be placed on the ballot. The letter shall be signed and acknowledged by both designated representatives before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments and shall be filed no later than thirty-three days prior to the election at which the initiative is to be voted upon.
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A Better Colorado is a broad-based coalition of businesses, workers and concerned citizens who believe that all Coloradans deserve the right to choose for themselves whether or not to join a union.
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