If you want out of the union (I’m sorry…partnership), let me know and I’ll be glad to send you the necessary forms.

Dave Ohmart coloradoloses@comcast.net

It seems like every couple of weeks we hear of all the wonderful things WINS is doing for us in conjunction with DPA or other state departments.  You need to know what is really going on.

 Membership comprises about ten percent of the total state employee population (just over 3,000), but they are now controlling your future.  A small group of WINS members in Pueblo have now voted on a 12-hour workday for all correction officers.  They told those who opposed this action, “If you want to have any voice about your job, you must become a member of WINS.”

 WINS has now taken your voice from you…not enhanced it!  A group of disgruntled employees now control you.  You have no say, anymore, in what happens to your life as a state employee.  It has been taken from you because 25% of your fellows voted WINS as our “partnership” 18 months ago, yet less than half of that number now run your work life.

 Colorado Loses took a recent poll.  Of the 504 who answered the question about membership, 9.9% stated they were members.  However, 18.5% stated they were favorable of WINS and 31.2% said they favor having a union.  When asked if they would vote for WINS in the future, 65.1% said NO!

 ColoradoWINS is nothing more than an arm of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) the single, largest union in the country.  SEIU has convinced a few naive coworkers that if they provide one percent (1%) of their gross wages, SEIU, under the guise of WINS, will get them better healthcare, higher wages, and, somehow, make their lives better.

 As part of the WINS’s charter, they will push beyond the governor’s executive order and ask the General Assembly to make their existence law.  There is a very good chance this will happen before May 2010.  It will require ALL state employees, who are not members, to pay a maintenance fee.  That fee could be from ¼% to ½% of your gross pay.  This could bring between $7,000,000 and $13,000,000 to their coffers.  Why does WINS need that much money?  Where will it go?  Take a wild guess.

 How do I know this?  It happened in Maine.  The state employee union forced all non-members to pay a maintenance fee.  It is a payment to the union for services provided to non-members by their actions.  You do the math…take .5% of your gross pay and give it to someone to make your decisions for you.  If you think they can’t do that – the US Supreme court said they could.

BREAKING NEWS…Pueblo, CO: ColoradoWINS forced themselves upon state correction officers December 17, 2009 when “WINS members only” voted to force Department of Corrections (DOC) employees to work 12-hour shifts.  Jeff Hotchkiss, a sergeant at the Pueblo correction facility, filed a formal complaint of discrimination against the DOC and the State of Colorado that WINS is “forcing” non-members to join if they want a voice in decisions about their work environment.

Here is the formal complaint by Sgt. Jeff Hotchkiss:

“On December 15, 2009 at about 0550 a.m. in the San Carlos roll call room I (Jeff Hotchkiss) along with all day shift staff were addressed by Bob Cantwell, Director of Prisons and Lou Archuleta, Deputy Director of Prisons. The meeting was concerning the upcoming vote by staff to obtain their opinion of going to twelve hour shifts. Also present were Gabe Hernandez and a Mr. Parker representing the Employee’s Organization (WINS). All staff were notified at that time that there would be a vote concerning the (MSP) Multi-Shift pilot program. We were also told that only WINS member’s would be allowed to vote. We were told that if you want to have a say, join WINS. Several people voiced their anger about the vote. I also spoke up and stated that what they were purposing was wrong.

“It was clearly a decided issue and our protests were in vein. Having top D.O.C. officials present added an intimidating factor to the meeting. The action taken was discriminatory in nature and created a hostile work environment. On December 17, 2009 the WINS vote was conducted, discriminating against employees and myself for not being members of their organization. Direct violation of Administrative Regulation 1450-05, Dept. Vision and Values statements, State Personnel Rules and Governor Executive Order D 028 07. I felt like I was being forced to join the Employee’s Organization and being intimidated by top D.O.C. officials. I personally, was emotionally shocked by the presentation. I cannot believe the gall and arrogance of the D.O.C. and WINS to stand up and blatantly discriminate against me and fellow staff. I found the presentation and the vote to be offensive and against, what any reasonable person would consider fair and or just.” [I edited this to protect other state employees by removing their names.]

I will provide more information as it comes in.

Is this how you want WINS to represent YOU???  This is what’s coming!  A small handful of disgruntled employees will do what they want unless you join with them and pay dues of 1% of your gross salary.

What can we do about it?  We can vote them out!  I hope to present an opportunity soon that will allow us to vote WINS out.  Watch for updates on the website.  Tell your friends to get on my email list or to watch the website, too.

Dave Ohmart

The Biggest Loser

coloradoloses@comcast.net