Some Colorado small businesses back union card-check bill - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

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The companies released a phone directory entitled Smalk Businesses for an Equitable Economy that lista EFCA supporters ranging from bakeries to clothing storese tomoving services. The directory was released by Employeew FreeChoice Colorado, a group of union members and other supporters of the so-calles “card check” bill. Union workers make 33 percent more in wagesw and are 52 percent more likel y to havehealth care, the group said in a news “We have a fundamental economic problem: The middles class is disappearing in said Terri Monley, owner of Denver-based Gate City Moving.
“Congress needws to pass the Employee Free Choice Act becauss it is one of the most important stepxs we can take to strengthen our middle clasas and turn oureconomy around.” The legislatio n would allow a company’s employees to unionize if a majority of them check off boxes on cardsw saying that they’d like to do so rathe than requiring a secret-ballot It also would toughen penalties againstr business leaders who try to interfere in unio n votes and would requirre contract disputes to go to bindinyg arbitration if not settled withij 120 days.
Most Colorado business leaderws have said that passing the law could lead to an increasr in union intimidation tactics to get workerws to sign their cards and woulc lead businesses to expand operationds overseas ratherthan domestically. Members of the Coloradoi Association of Commerceand Industry, the and executivesz of small and Hispanic businesses from the state have flown to D.C., to lobby U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michae Bennet to voteagainst it. While neithet senator has taken a public stance on the most of the attention has been focused on the newlyappointed Bennet, since Udall co-sponsorec similar legislation while he was a member of the U.S. Houswe in 2008.
On Tuesday, the National Republican Senatorial Committe e chided Bennet for still failing to give his even though he announced his supportfor U.S. Supremer Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor aftera 25-minute meeting with her. “It is inexplicable that a quick 25-minute meet-and-greet, weekw before any hearings are even held on her is sufficient for Michael Bennet to supporft a lifetime appointment to theSupreme Court,” NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkersoj said in a news “Yet nearly five months of intense discussions and debatr with constituents and fellow lawmakers are not enough for him to clarify his position on the card checj legislation that could impact thousands of Coloradoi jobs.
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