The Colorado Union Observer
The Colorado Union Observer compiles media articles covering unions, including litigation, legislation, and other developments that could affect Colorado employees’ rights. Note: The content of this page does not solely reflect lawsuits filed by clients of the Fairness Center, and the opinions expressed in linked articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fairness Center.
Featured News
News of Colorado Unions
News
Unionized Safeway workers in Colorado reach tentative deal to end strike, union and company say
7/5/2025 | Austen Erblat, Michael Abeyta | CBS News
Eagle County School District, teacher’s union come to an agreement under mediation: ‘Nobody is happy’
7/1/2025 | Zoe Goldstein | Vail Daily
Former PCSO sergeant arrested for alleged theft of union dues from other employees’ paychecks
6/30/2025 | Ashley Eberhardt | Fox 21 News
Denver Public Schools, teachers’ union inch closer to new contract
6/14/2025 | Daniel Boniface | The Denver Gazette
Two of Colorado’s biggest unions join a state employee in suing Gov. Jared Polis
6/9/2025 | Shaun Boyd | CBS News Colorado
Former head of Colorado’s largest teachers union jumps into Democratic primary in 8th Congressional District
6/5/2025 | Erica Breunlin and Jesse Paul | Colorado Sun
Colorado unions, business groups react to Gov. Polis’ veto of labor bill
5/19/2025 | Derek Draplin | The Center Square Colorado
Colorado House advances bill deleting requirement to impose dues on non-union members
5/16/2025 | Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics
Colorado Springs educators vote to strike in response to District 11 labor practices, contract dissolution
5/9/2025 | Sadie Buggle | KRDO News
Denver Public Schools announces ‘impasse’ in contract negotiation with teachers’ union
5/7/2025 | Danielle Kreutter | Denver 7 News
Colorado Democrats send union bill to Gov Jared Polis with veto threat looming
5/6/2025 | Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics
Bill to remove Colorado requirement for second vote to unionize passes House committee
3/13/2025 | Lindsey Toomer | Colorado Newsline
D11 Board of Education hosting listening sessions for new Employee Handbook
1/30/2025 | Ashleigh Quintana | KOAA News 5 Southern Colorado
Colorado Springs D11 ends bargaining agreement with teachers
12/12/2024 | Jenny Brundin | CPR
Opinion
Opinion: Colorado public employees deserve the truth from union officials
7/8/2025 | Nathan McGrath | Colorado Sun
Public employees deserve truth from union officials
6/20/2025 | Nathan McGrath | The Center Square
In Colorado, Jared Polis Is Defying the Wishes of Unions
6/20/2025 | Charles Sauer | RealClear Markets
Partisan political activism dominates teachers’ union
5/22/2025 | Bruce Cole | The Denver Gazette
Colorado Workers Should Know Their Rights
5/14/2025 | Nathan McGrath | The Denver Gazette
America’s Only Half-Right-to-Work State May Finally Treat Unions Fairly
4/3/2025 | Brock Hrehor | The American Prospect
EDITORIAL: Big labor seeks a big payday at Casa Bonita
10/30/2024 | Gazette Editorial Board | The Denver Gazette
Frequently Asked Questions
Since 2020, Colorado has passed multiple new state laws that relate to unions and public employees. These laws allow for mandatory unionization of nearly 70,000 state and county employees. For instance, Colorado Workers for Innovative and New Solutions (WINS) Local 1876 is a union representing more than 27,000 state employees, affiliated with American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Employees in several counties across the state are now unionized under AFSCME Colorado. Further statutes and regulations relating to labor law are under consideration.
NOTE: If you have questions about this topic, or think you have a legal issue, consider contacting a lawyer. Fairness Center lawyers represent clients for free and can be reached here or at 844.293.1001. We strongly encourage you to pursue with haste any legal claim you believe you may have, as the mere passage of time may prevent you from exercising possible legal claims.
The Fairness Center currently offers free legal representation in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Colorado, and to federal employees, and may soon be expanding to other areas. The Fairness Center has represented clients involved in disputes with unions, including:
- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE),
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME),
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT),
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW),
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters),
- Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (LEEBA),
- National Education Association (NEA),
- National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU),
- New York State United Teachers (NYSUT),
- Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association (PSCOA),
- Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA),
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU),
- Transportation Workers Union of America (TWU),
- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW),
- UNITE Here, and more.
NOTE: If you have questions about this topic, or think you have a legal issue, consider contacting a lawyer. Fairness Center lawyers represent clients for free and can be reached here or at 844.293.1001. We strongly encourage you to pursue with haste any legal claim you believe you may have, as the mere passage of time may prevent you from exercising possible legal claims.
Unions owe a duty of fair representation to all the employees in a bargaining unit they represent, whether they are union members or not. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that the duty is breached when a union’s actions toward an employee it represents are “arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith.” Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 190 (1967).
Many jurisdictions follow that standard, but the exact details of what the duty requires may vary by jurisdiction and circumstances.
The Fairness Center has represented clients, like Connecticut teacher John Grande, who have alleged that their union violated the duty of fair representation because they were not union members or because union officials misrepresented important information during collective bargaining, as was the case with Pennsylvania employee Mark Kiddo and his colleagues.
NOTE: If you have questions about this topic, or think you have a legal issue, consider contacting a lawyer. Fairness Center lawyers represent clients for free and can be reached here or at 844.293.1001. We strongly encourage you to pursue with haste any legal claim you believe you may have, as the mere passage of time may prevent you from exercising possible legal claims.
Unions owe a duty of fair representation to all the employees in a bargaining unit they represent, whether they are union members or not. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that the duty is breached when a union’s actions toward an employee it represents are “arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith.” Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 190 (1967).
Many jurisdictions follow that standard, but the exact details of what the duty requires may vary by jurisdiction and circumstances. Some states permit unions not to represent nonmembers in “individualized” grievances. Also, some states allow nonmembers to represent themselves in grievances, at least in the first stages.
The Fairness Center has represented clients, like Connecticut teacher John Grande, who alleged that their union violated the duty of fair representation because they were not union members or because union officials misrepresented important information during collective bargaining, as was the case with Pennsylvania employee Mark Kiddo and his colleagues.
NOTE: If you have questions about this topic, or think you have a legal issue, consider contacting a lawyer. Fairness Center lawyers represent clients for free and can be reached here or at 844.293.1001. We strongly encourage you to pursue with haste any legal claim you believe you may have, as the mere passage of time may prevent you from exercising possible legal claims.
If you are a public employee who is not a union member, you have a constitutional right not to pay fees to a union, according to the Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME decision in 2018.
Some courts have said that employees who were union members but who later resigned from the union had to continue paying union dues for a period of time in some circumstances. One example is if the employee had signed a membership card or application containing certain language.
We have successfully represented clients who were told they had to pay the union when they did not want to. However, the facts and circumstances of each situation vary, and our ability to offer representation may depend on the relevant legal jurisdiction.
NOTE: If you have questions about this topic, or think you have a legal issue, consider contacting a lawyer. Fairness Center lawyers represent clients for free and can be reached here or at 844.293.1001. We strongly encourage you to pursue with haste any legal claim you believe you may have, as the mere passage of time may prevent you from exercising possible legal claims.