


The right-to-work initiative, opposed by organized labor, would ask voters to amend the state constitution to say that union membership and the payment of union dues or fees could not be mandatory.
The labor-backed initiatives would require employers to give workers annual cost-of-living increases, mandate health-insurance coverage for businesses with 20 or more employees, require businesses to pay more in property taxes and prevent employers from firing workers without "just cause," among other measures.
Mark Messenbaugh, coalition chairman, described the group as "a membership organization designed to educate Democratic policymakers on business concerns and express Democratic ideals within the business community."
The group said it has more than 300 members from a broad range of business sectors.
Its board of directors includes Bart Alexander of Molson Coors Brewing Co., Pam Feely of Feely & Associates, Ed Shackelford of Cherry Creek GMAC Real Estate and Vic Smith of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
The group's effort to keep the competing measures off the ballot reflects similar approaches by the Denver Metro and South Metro Denver chambers of commerce and Gov. Bill Ritter.
(denverpost.com)