Re: “Repeal Ritter’s order on labor,” Jan. 16 editorial.
Gov. John Hickenlooper shouldn’t overturn the 2007 executive order that allows employee organizations to establish partnership agreements with the state, bringing managers and employees together to make government more effective and efficient.
The order formalized a process for recognizing union representation of state employees once workers voted for such representation. Through the partnership, we work to identify efficiencies; eliminate government waste; improve customer satisfaction, such as reducing wait times; enhance employee recruitment, training and retention; and boost workplace safety. That’s good business practice. The order was modeled after one used by Kaiser Permanente — a successful-outcome, customer-service-oriented business — with its employees.
The Denver Post asserted that the order will cost the state “untold amounts of money.” If anything, the cost of government has gone down over the past several years.
Through the partnership, workers have reached agreements with management to increase efficiency and reduce waste, such as the agreement to put the DMV manual online so that workers could quickly access information and cut wait time for customers. We’ve also improved safety procedures and training in the Department of Human Services to help reduce on-the-job injuries and related costs.
The order always included a no-strike provision.
State employees work 12-hour shifts clearing mountain passes and state roads. They protect our communities from convicted criminals, provide critical health services to veterans, steward our natural resources, and monitor our drinking water. Why should these workers be denied the same basic rights — safe working conditions and fair pay — as private workers?
The partnership between state workers and the state is a powerful tool through which we can improve services to taxpayers, boost efficiency and innovation. It’s good business.
Pattie Johnston is a nurse and president of Colorado Workers for Innovation and New Solutions (WINS). Robert Gibson is executive director.
