Legislation that would make it a crime for state employees to strike won initial approval from the House today with support from a mix of Democrats and Republicans – supporting the bill for totally opposite reasons.
The bill is fallout from Gov. Bill Ritter’s executive order creating union partnerships for state employees. An attorney general’s opinion said the governor’s order – despite its no-strike clause – could not prevent state workers from striking.
Ritter has said he would sign the bill.
Democrats killed a GOP-backed bill last week that would have banned strikes for all public employees, including teachers, transportation workers and public health employees.
The bill banning strikes for only state workers passed today despite dissent from Democrats who did not want to make striking a misdemeanor and Republicans who said the legislation has no teeth.
“Unfortunately, this bill, in my opinion, is a joke,” said Rep. Victor Mitchell, R-Castle Rock.
The House has one more vote on the bill before sending it to the Senate.
