Posts tagged Jared Polis
“Put our money where our mouth is”: Colorado Democrats’ internal debate over unions
November 25, 2024 // The labor movement’s relationship with Democrats has been on the rocks in recent years, hitting a low point at the end of the 2024 legislative session when Polis vetoed three of their priority bills. During a May protest on the steps of the Capitol, hundreds of demonstrators shouted “shame on Polis!,” some wearing “Polis failed workers” T-shirts as they gathered under a banner that said “Governor Polis turned his back on us.” “Colorado Democrats performed uniquely well in this election,” state Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, said Tuesday, “and this is where we get a chance to put up or shut up. Which side are you on, Colorado Democrats? The power is completely in our hands.”
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.
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.
Op-Ed: County collective bargaining bill rewards unions, harms employees and taxpayers
May 17, 2022 // Buoyed by taxpayer support and armed with coercively inflated dues revenue, unions will plow resources into electing county commissioners more favorably disposed to union demands at the bargaining table, thus further increasing their power.
Polis, Democratic lawmakers and local governments are all squaring off over public bargaining rights
February 20, 2022 // Today, only 15 of Colorado’s 272 municipalities have collectively bargained agreements with any part of their workforce, and almost all of those contracts are with police and firefighters. Just about a quarter of school districts have collective bargaining, too.
Colorado front and center in new era of labor fights post-pandemic
January 24, 2022 // The labor fight that recently hit Colorado grocery stores may soon extend to local coffee shops, classrooms and city hall.
Polis throws cold water on public unions bill
January 21, 2022 // Colorado: A bill to allow public employees to engage in collective bargaining has run into its biggest hurdle: lack of support from Gov. Jared Polis