“Colorado state jobs pay 6% more” is the title of the Denver Post article on 6/9/09 by Tim Hoover:

  http://www.denverpost.com/firstinthepost/ci_12549542?source=rsshomefirst

He article went on:

 “Colorado state employees make an average of 6 percent more than workers who do the same jobs in the private sector or for other governments, a private audit of the state’s salary system released Monday found.”

So…why do we need a union?  The 6% doesn’t even include PERA…which would push us up even higher.

So, again I ask, why do we need a union if we are already among the best-paid employees on the planet?  Why do they need $420 from me each year?

Do you honestly believe WINS will bring greater then

a 1% increase annually to your life?

There are three reasons they want you to join:

1.      Money

2.      Power

3.      Money

A recent flyer posted by WINS in the unemployment office stated:

“WINS prevented mandatory furloughs for state employees.”

 Here is the formal statement from the latest EAC meeting relating to negotiations with WINS:

“Response:  The Department and State are not technically negotiating with Colorado WINS.  The discussions between the Department, State, and Colorado WINS does not constitute collective bargaining.  The discussions are designed to build consensus and provide an avenue for discussions about employee concerns.”

(EAC is the Employee Advisory Council to Don Mares, Labor and Employment Executive Director)

Challenged to come up with an alternative to Colorado WINS…

I offer this:

Create a Board of Employees

·        This Board is not appointed by the governor nor confirmed by the general assembly.  The Board is elected by coworkers to serve a one-year term (limited to 2 terms).  Each department has a member who represents that group: Labor & Employment, DPA, DOT, Revenue, Education…etc

·        That Board elects a Chairperson who presents our needs to a lobbyist.  Yes…a lobbyist who takes our concerns to the General Assembly and the Governor.

·        The Board is funded by a $1 Monthly fee paid by ALL employees below appointed positions.  (Senior staff is now exempt from WINS representation.)  That comes to $384,000 to pay for the Lobbyist and operating cost of the Board: travel, office expenses, and a small staff.  A lobbyist can cost from $100k-$150k annually.  A savings of many millions of dollars compared to the  dues of WINS members which is currently 1% of employee salaries.

·        The Chairperson has privileges from his/her job to travel the state to interact with state employees and their Board members to learn their issues and take them to the lobbyist.

Join with me as I prepare to push for this new idea!

A fresh, bold approach

to true representation of state employees.

David Ohmart

The Biggest Loser

coloradoloses@comcast.net

 First, I was silenced –

 Now I’m Hog-Tied

 Ryan Webber of Colorado WINS told Don Schultz, a fellow loser, today that I (David Ohmart) am now barred from ANY WINS’ events.

SO, I need your help…

Please go to WINS’ events and report to me what they are saying.

David Ohmart

The Biggest Loser

www.coloradoloses.org

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me–
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller

because I’m a Loser…and you should too…

The Governor of the State of Colorado and DPA have declared that Colorado WINS is the only voice allowed to be heard via the state email system.  That they, WINS, is the ONLY voice of the people.  What do YOU say? 

Colorado LOSES is denied easy access to voice opposition to WINS.  Read it here:

David,

Following the process set forth in Executive Order D 028 07, Colorado Wins has completed the petition process and been certified as the exclusive representative of seven of the eight Occupational Groups within the State Personnel System.  This certification was achieved by a vote of the employees covered in each Occupational Group (Partnership Unit).   Because Colorado Wins is a certified representative of the employees in these seven groups, that organization has been given limited access to the statewide email system in order to communicate with the employees it was elected to represent.  In contrast, neither you nor your organization qualifies as a certified representative of any occupational group (nor does your request for access relate to the conduct of state business), and, therefore, we must deny your request for access to the state email system. 

DPA, however, has provided you with a list of employee email addresses in response to an Open Records Act request, and you may continue to make appropriate use of that list in order to communicate with state employees.

Regards,

Julie

Julie D. Postlethwait

Public Information Officer
Department of Personnel & Administration

633 17th Street, Suite 1600

Denver, CO 80202

303-866-6095

julie.postlethwait@state.co.us

We are about to be overrun like locust over a dry field.

I am receiving stories of WINS reps at state offices using pushy tactics.  They call employees on their private cell phones (unlisted!!!) and business phones.  WINS has total disregard to the 25’ rule when greeting people as they leave their offices.  A WINS rep won’t stop when approaching employees in their lunch room in unemployment when told “NO!”

I was sent this by Andy Stern, the president of SEIU, a major force behind WINS:

David,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOM0AMUqviY

Check out this video. It’s hard to believe they actually said those things.

SPEAK UP…

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD…

TELL THE GOVERNOR YOU WANT COLORADO LOSES’ VOICE HEARD…

Colorado Loses Silenced

I was told by WINS representative Ryan Webber that I am no longer allowed to attend any future WINS meetings.  I have never said anything at any of the meetings I have ever attended other than just listen and report.  I was physically removed from their first convention in September for just being there.  I was told by Ryan when Governor Ritter spoke to WINS members on 2/25/09 that I would be tossed out of the Knights of Columbus building if I asked a question of my boss.

This is union thuggary at its best.  I can only think that those who support this “partnership” and its leaders must also believe these tactics are honorable and justified.

WINS members - stand up to this thuggary and demand that I be allowed to attend future meetings.  Are these the people you want  representing you?

David Ohmart