Posts tagged Colorado
Denver homeless shelter becomes first to unionize in the state
July 31, 2023 // SEIU emphasized that Urban Peak workers jobs are "difficult both physically and emotionally," stating that many reported incidents involving death in the workplace; however, they claim management handles the trauma for workers and clients poorly, fails to provide staff the required training for these incidents and punish them if they speak out. According to the news release, workers claim management has not started plans for negotiations, though workers and supporters throughout Denver said it's "critical" for Urban Peak to bargain with the union to address the issues at hand and start improving conditions at the shelter. The shelter's CEO, Christine Carlson, said the following statement Friday afternoon: "As an organization, we were grateful for the time to hold an election and learn about the impact associated with unionization... The election allowed all our employees to have their voice heard."
Teamsters Union Local #455 Settles EEOC Sexual Harassment Case
July 14, 2023 // After first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process, the EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Teamsters Local Union #455, Civil Action No.: 1:22-cv-2520-DDD-KLM), alleging that the union, through its agent, had violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. Under the consent decree resolving the suit, Teamsters Local #455 will review and update its anti-discrimination policies to include a strong and clear commitment to preventing unlawful sex discrimination (including sexual harassment). The union will also provide training to its officers, agents, and employees, and will post an informational flyer about workplace sex harassment at its Colorado office locations and on union bulletin boards at employer business locations where members of Local #455 are employed.
Public workers who exercise free speech will be protected under new Colorado law
July 5, 2023 // Queer workers, workers of color, women, mothers, parents — all tend to feel retaliation a lot harder in the workplace. – Jade Kelly, of Communications Workers of America 7799 It follows a change to state law last year that gave employees in large Colorado counties the right to unionize and collectively bargain. That effort initially included a larger portion of public-sector workers, but it was pared down during the legislative process. “It shows testament to workers’ power on the rise,” said Jade Kelly, president of Communications Workers of America 7799, a coalition of several unions across Colorado, about the passage of SB-111. “We were organized, testifying in committees and making sure that workers’ voices were heard at the Capitol in a concentrated, meaningful way.” Queer workers, workers of color, women, mothers, parents — all tend to feel retaliation a lot harder in the workplace. – Jade Kelly, of Communications Workers of America 7799 The bill is personal for Kelly as well. She said that she requested a gender neutral bathroom several years ago at her University of Colorado Boulder job, but she was told that accommodation would be a security threat. Kelly, who is a transgender woman, spoke with her coworkers and they started organizing, only to be told by leadership that the group could be fired for taking action.
Five Years Later, Janus Is Decimating Government Unions
June 30, 2023 // Government unions never should have exercised so much control over so many people for so many years. The Supreme Court righted this wrong in 2018, and five years later, more than a million public sector workers have exercised their freedom, keeping at least $720 million of their hard-earned money every year. These numbers are all but certain to grow over the next five years. Perhaps by the 10th anniversary of the Janus decision, government unions will admit how much they’re hurting and change to a less partisan and more effective model of member persuasion.
Teachers’ Union Girds for Battle As Woodland Park Parents Push Back
June 21, 2023 // This April, the Colorado Education Association (CEA) passed a resolution condemning capitalism, citing its fundamental “exploitation of children, public schools, land, labor, and/or resources.” Due to seemingly endless resources from their national organizations, teachers’ unions often go unchecked in school districts, especially in deep blue states. Parents from Colorado’s Woodland Park School District, however, have taken a stand against the Woodland Park Education Association (WPEA).
Colorado passes unionization law
June 20, 2023 // The law emphasizes the rights of public employees to join a public union, including county or municipal workers, general assembly staffers, school district employees, higher education employees, public defenders’ officers, University of Colorado and Denver hospital authorities, fire authorities, and members of a board of cooperative services.
Oregon Education Association Just the Latest Teachers’ Union to Impose Racially Discriminatory Policies
June 15, 2023 // On April 30, OEA’s board of directors discussed a so-called “progressive dues structure for BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) members,” according to meeting minutes. This scheme would include a “significant discount for educators until the racial breakdown of our membership aligns with the racial breakdown of our student population.”
Union membership declines in New York, other states
April 25, 2023 // A recent report by The74Million noted that overall union membership declined or barely increased in several states, despite growth in public-sector jobs in 2022. Because of the rapid public-sector job growth, public unions had a net increase of about 83,000 new members nationwide, maintaining membership rates at 33%. Most of the public-sector union membership rate growth was in California, which added 250,000 new government jobs and resulted in over 111,000 new union members. But other states did not follow California’s lead. The report said, “21 states and the District of Columbia lost 284,517 members, for a net decline of 28,021 outside of California. New York and Minnesota were the biggest losers.”
Will more Trader Joe’s workers vote to unionize?
April 20, 2023 //
Unions make gains in Colorado
February 22, 2023 // On January 31, 2023, a proposed bill entitled “Public Employees’ Workplace Protection” (SB23-111) that would give public unions more power and influence in the workplace. The sponsors are State Senator Robert Rodriguez (D) and State Representative Steven Woodrow (D). The legislation would impact public employees such as county or municipal workers, general assembly staffers, school district employees, higher education employees, public defenders’ officers, University of Colorado and Denver hospital authorities, fire authorities, and members of board of cooperative services. Multiple unions have already endorsed the bill. The Communications Workers of America 7799 (CWA), which is affiliated with AFL-CIO and represents public defenders, education employees, healthcare employees, and library workers, said the bill would protect workers from retaliation from employers.