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Faculty picket Governor's Mansion Oct. 5.
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hibits collective bargaining unless by Steve Raabe Community college faculty of legislative funding is received. The Board's action killed any Colorado have apparently been chan~e for the bargaining agreedefeated in their efforts to obtain ment, according to State Reprecollective bargaining rights. The State Board for Communi- sen ta ti v e Tom Tancredo (R-< ty Colleges and Occupational Edu- . Arvada), chairman of the House cation, the governing agency for Education committee. ''There is absolutely no chance the system, passed an amendment that the legislature will whatsoever in its September meeting that pror:
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appropriate those funds,'' Tancredo said. Keith Dallas, a Community College-Denver math instructor, agreed the collective bargaining provision has been effectively sidetracked. He warned that unless SBCCOE and the state legislature lift their restrictions on faculty organization, a strike could occur. "We're asking for a fair and equitable contract," Dallas said. "A strike shouldn't be necessary but we will do it if it comes to that." Dallas said faculty members were especially upset because in 1976 SBCCOE formally aecepted . a collective bargaining agreement. The Board's September vote reversed that decision. Several persons sympathetic to the faculty position blamed Gov. Richard Lamm for the current negotiation problems. "Lamm decided that if he wanted to get along with the Republican legislature, collective bargaining was a sacrifice he could make," said Gwendolyn Thomas, a voting member of SBCCOE. Thomas said the board's 5-4 vote against the bargaining proposal was a direct result of recent Lamm appointments to the board.
Colorado Education Association President Jim Mills also ~lamed Lamm for the board's act1on. "It's particularly disappointing that the governor, who says he believes in collective bargaining as an effective problem-s9lving process, did nothing to head off this collision between the board and the faculty," Mills said. The board recommended a 15 percent salary increase for the instructors in its budget request, but legislative approval for the increase is uncertain, Thomas said. Tancredo indicated he would support a salary increase, but refused to name a specific figure. He said it was the duty of the legislature to "hold the line" on inflationary spending. State laws now require a 7 percent ceiling on state spending over the previous year's budget. Dallas was skeptical that the proposed increase would mollify facult.y discontent. "They might think we're a bunch of ~hor~s, b~t they can't buy us off, Dallas said. Additional strategy for the teachers' group is being discussed, Dallas said, but does not include immediate plans for any strikes or walkouts.