Avaya Exec Pushes 'Right to Work' in Colorado

A Denver city councilman and Avaya executive has filed an anti-union "right to work" ballot measure that Colorado voters may decide in November if backers get 70,000 signatures on petitions.

The so-called right to work proposal would make it harder for Colorado unions to grow and collect dues by banning agency shop agreements and barring employers from deducting dues from workers' paychecks.

The measure was filed by Ryan Frazier, a councilman in the Denver suburb of Aurora. According to vague language on his campaign website, he is a businessman who is charged at Avaya with "helping grow the business through continuous improvement engagements." He has made no public statements about the ballot measure. State Rep. Mike Garcia, who recently sponsored a bill that would have made it easier for unions to organize – legislation vetoed by the Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter – pledged to fight Frazier's proposal.

"Right-to-work laws benefit corporate executives with six-figure salaries, period," Garcia said. "Unions are good for working men and women."