Governor’s Veto Disappoints Firefighters

COLORADO SPRINGS – City firefighters are among comrades in Colorado who disagree with Gov. Bill Ritter’s veto Thursday of Senate Bill 180, dealing with collective bargaining.

The Colorado Professional Firefighters of the AFL-CIO represents about 75% of the state’s firefighters. Mike Smaldino, president of the IAFF Local 5 in Colorado Springs, joined about 150 statewide union members at aFriday press conference inDenver to speak out against Ritter’s decision.

The veto means that the union will remain unable to negotiate with local governments for pay, benefits and grievances–an important move, sincecontracts do not allow union firefighters to strike over such issues. Smaldino says the union is especially disappointed because Ritter promisedon several occasions to sign the bill.

Ritter says he vetoed the bill because local communities can vote for collective bargaining on their own, and signing the bill would have gone against the will of citizens who oppose collectivebargaining.

In an apparent concession to the union, the Governor called for creating a statewide certification program to address safety concerns in the bill–asking the union and fire chiefs, among others, to help. Ritter wants the program ready for a legislative vote next year. However, Smaldino says the program isn’t needed because the union already follows safety standards by theNational Fire Protection Association.

Smaldino says he’s puzzled as to why the Governor apparently changed his mind about vetoing the bill, and there’s nothing the union can do–except voice its displeasure, as it did in Denver Friday.