The Colorado Union Observer
News and opinion about litigation, legislation, and other developments that could affect Colorado labor law and 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
Veto likely as union-backed bill heads to Colorado governor’s desk—again
Colorado Politics
“For the second year in a row, a bill that would make it easier for labor organizations to impose fees on all workers, regardless of union membership, is headed for Gov. Jared Polis’ desk. The governor, who vetoed the legislation last year, has indicated he would do so again — unless business representatives and labor organizations reach an agreement.”
Teachers, schools do better without a union contract
The Denver Gazette
“Why should any Colorado school district trade years of success for the shackles of a union contract? Collective bargaining only would tie the hands of elected school leaders and taxpayers alike — to benefit a union most teachers don’t even join.”
Sheridan Teachers strike, Co.’s longest educators strike in 40 years, officially ends
CBS Colorado
“The longest teacher strike in decades in Colorado is officially coming to an end. The Board of Education on Tuesday accepted the deal between the Sheridan teachers union and Sheridan School District No. 2.”
Judge rules in favor of Colorado Springs District 11 in union lawsuit
The Denver Gazette
“A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against Colorado Springs District 11 by its teachers union, Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA), because its claims are now moot. The suit, filed in September 2024, stems from D-11’s decision to implement a block schedule for the 2023-24 school year.”
Gov. Jared Polis brings Sheridan schools, union together in effort to end teacher strike
9NEWS
“There’s hope for a deal between Sheridan Schools and the union. For the past three weeks, Sheridan teachers have been out of school and on the picket line.”
University of Colorado Regents to vote on collective bargaining rights
KGNU
“CU employees are organizing for the right to collective bargaining with the university. It’s up to the Regents to decide on a collective bargaining policy. Last week, representatives of CU’s United Campus Workers union filled a Denver meeting of the University of Colorado regents.”
Denver Public Schools could ask voters to approve a $44 million tax increase
Chalkbeat Colorado
“The Denver teachers union supports another mill levy override. It was even part of the union’s last contract with the district, signed last year. The contract included a memorandum of understanding in which the district acknowledged that educators ‘serve a vital role’ and agreed to consider asking voters in 2025 or 2026 to raise taxes.”
Colorado may replace ‘César Chávez Day’ with ‘Farm Workers Day’ after alleged sexual abuse revelations
CBS Colorado
“The measure comes after 95-year-old Dolores Huerta—who co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Chávez—alleged he sexually assaulted her, appearing to corroborate the claims of many other women, many of whom were children at the time.”
News of Colorado Unions
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Opinion
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, New Jersey 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.