Labor pulls two of four ballot measures

A peace offering of sorts from the United Food Workers and Commercial Workers,

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 said today that it is withdrawing two of four proposed ballot initiatives, part of an effort to get business interests to pull their right-to-work measure.

"We want to show that we're open to negotiation with the business community," said Manny Gonzales, a spokesman for UFCW Local 7, which represents food and health care workers and barbers in the Rocky Mountain region.

The union is withdrawing measures that would have mandated annual cost of living increases for employees at companies with more than 10 workers and raised businesses' property taxes. The remaining proposals would require businesses with 20 or more employees to provide health insurance for workers and allow injured people to sue employers outside the workers' compensation system.

I'm not privy to any behind the scenes negotiations but I'm concerned that labor is once again offering up overtures when there is no indication that the business community is interested in negotiating.

From a policy standpoint these were by far the two weakest of the four initiatives. Politically speaking they were probably the weakest two as well so this move gives the UFCW a nice face-saving out. They no longer have to spend money and man hours campaigning on two issues that probably hurt their overall message more than it helped it. This also pushes business into a bit of a corner, labor can make the case to the public that they made a good faith effort, now what's the business commuity's move?

The business community though can (and I bet will) quickly dismiss this overture and call for a withdrawal of the remaining two initiatives before business will agree to pull the right-to-work measure.

An interesting development on its face but I'm not sure it will actually change the landscape of the coming labor-business battle royale.