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
Denver firefighters left the state union years ago. They sent us a $400k bill anyway.
The Denver Post
“This is our members’ hard-earned money…They have sacrificed for every dollar, and they have earned the right to decide, through their autonomous democratic vote as members of Local 858, where that money goes and who speaks on their behalf.”
Denver firefighters’ union sues state union, IAFF over disaffiliation, $389K dues dispute
Fire Rescue 1
“Denver Fire Fighters Local 858, which represents more than 1,000 firefighters and EMS personnel, has sued the statewide firefighters union over a dispute involving its decision to leave the organization and nearly $400,000 in dues.”
Denver firefighters’ union has a right to determine its own destiny
Westword
“Local 858 believes its first duty is to Denver firefighters — not another union — and they are asking the court to affirm their right to determine their own destiny.”
Teacher who battled union fears she’s being targeted after shirt complaint: ‘I’m afraid’
Fox News
“Stacy Adair, an award-winning teacher from Colorado, is facing scrutiny after a complaint that accused her of spreading anti-transgender messaging by wearing an ‘XX ≠ XY’ chromosome T-shirt to a professional development training event earlier this month.”
EDITORIAL: Colorado labor law left counties in a straitjacket
The Denver Gazette
“The practical impact is counties can’t even point out the drawbacks of unionization without violating the state law. That encroaches on free speech and places counties that heed the state law at odds with federal law.”
Colorado union chief’s pick to head NEA under heavy teacher scrutiny
Complete Colorado
“When thousands of teachers gather in Denver in July to decide who will lead America’s largest teachers’ union, the National Education Association (NEA), only one candidate will be touting the endorsement of Kevin Vick, the most powerful teachers’ union official in Colorado.”
Denver school board president accuses members of policy violations, including antisemitic language
Chalkbeat Colorado
“The Denver school board president is accusing two board members of a long list of policy violations, including that Vice President Monica Hunter allegedly used antisemitic language and board member DJ Torres repeatedly missed meetings.”
News of Colorado Unions
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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.