The Get More Smarter Podcast | Apr 14, 2025

Colorado Newsline | Apr 10, 2025

Colorado’s Worker Protection Act would repeal the Labor Peace Act’s requirement that workers in the state prevail in two elections to win union representation and collective bargaining.

Denver Gazette | Apr 9, 2025

In an email to supporters, Sanders included the phone number for Polis' office, saying, "Bernie had promised we'd follow up with different ways to get involved, and here's one today."

The Ross Kaminsky Show | Apr 7, 2025

Law 360 | Apr 4, 2025

A proposal to overhaul Colorado's law requiring unions to go through a second election before negotiating union security clauses is undergoing last-minute discussions over its final form in hopes of thwarting the governor's veto threat.

The American Prospect | Apr 3, 2025

In Colorado, labor activists and progressive legislators are campaigning to advance the Worker Protection Act, which would modify the state’s 1943 Labor Peace Act (LPA), a law that weakens labor unions and thereby exacerbates the state’s wealth gap.

Fight Back! News | Mar 21, 2025

Around 150 union workers gathered on the steps raising signs and showing support for measure has passed the senate and is on the way to the house and governor.

Colorado Politics | Mar 19, 2025

Union workers gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to urge Gov. Jared Polis to support legislation repealing a key requirement before labor organizations can impose dues on non-union employees. 

Denver 7 | Mar 19, 2025

Hundreds of Colorado workers gathered outside the State Capitol on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to support a measure that would ease the process of forming labor unions.

Colorado Newsline | Mar 19, 2025

A Federal Trade Commission member fired by President Donald Trump this week urged Colorado lawmakers Wednesday to pursue policies that hold corporations accountable.

The Denver Post | Mar 19, 2025

Senate Bill 5 is now one vote away from the House floor, where it’s expected to pass and then face an uncertain fate on Polis’ desk.

Colorado Newsline | Mar 13, 2025

A Colorado House of Representatives committee approved a bill Thursday that would make it easier to form unions in Colorado by removing the state’s requirement for a second vote.

Yellow Scene | Mar 13, 2025

House Business Affairs and Labor Committee will consider the Worker Protection Act (SB25-005). The bill will eliminate the second election requirement in Colorado labor law in order to expand workers’ freedom to negotiate for better pay and workplace safety, and stop state interference in employer-employee negotiations.

Boulder Daily Camera | Mar 1, 2025

That’s why I’m sponsoring the Worker Protection Act (SB 25-005) and urging my colleagues and Governor Polis to support this critical bill. Colorado workers need us to stand up for their economic future.

News Week | Feb 27, 2025

After an election where Republicans made substantial gains with working-class voters, Democratic leaders are debating what went wrong and how to win back their support.

KKTV | Feb 26, 2025

A bill has passed the Senate that lawmakers say would help eliminate the barriers for workers to unionize.

Currently, in order to form one, workers have to go through two elections, but this collective bargaining bill would reduce this process to one election.

Steamboat Pilot & Today | Feb 18, 2025

Ski area employees see a new era for union support amid Democrats’ attempts to overturn an 81-year-old law that they say is a roadblock for organized labor efforts.

The Sum & Substance | Feb 18, 2025

A significant change to Colorado’s 82-year-old Labor Peace Act is now halfway to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk, as Senate Democrats approved it along party lines Tuesday after two days of debate on the subject.

Colorado Politics | Feb 18, 2025

The Colorado Senate on Tuesday passed a proposal to eliminate a key requirement before a labor group can negotiate with a company to impose dues on non-union members.       

Colorado Newsline | Feb 18, 2025

The Colorado Senate gave final approval to a bill Tuesday that would make it easier to form unions in Colorado, following hours of arguments in opposition from Republicans last week. 

KUNC | Feb 14, 2025

Colorado lawmakers took a major step toward making it dramatically easier for labor unions to organize. The state Senate agreed Thursday to repeal the law that requires two votes for a union to represent workers.

The Denver Post | Feb 13, 2025

The Colorado Senate gave initial approval Thursday to a bill that makes it easier for workers to negotiate a key provision of union contracts.

Colorado Politics | Feb 4, 2025

Senate Bill 005 would repeal the Colorado Labor Peace Act's requirement for a second election for employees to establish a "union security" agreement at their workplace.

The Colorado Sun | Feb 3, 2025

Democrats in the Colorado legislature this year want to get rid of the requirement that unions take a vote before they can negotiate with an employer over imposing fees on all employees to pay for collective bargaining

Feb 3, 2025

On this episode of The Labor Exchange we talk to Ben Ullrich, an organizer with SEIU Local 105 and former craft distiller. We discuss Colorado's outdated labor laws and why more workers are choosing to organize.

Colorado Public Radio | Jan 31, 2025

At issue is an 1943 law that makes it harder for workplaces to fully unionize. The last attempt to repeal it died in a surprise veto from a Democratic governor. Is this year's effort headed for the same fate?

Boulder Weekly | Jan 29, 2025

My union gives me security. I can negotiate fair wages, cost-of-living increases, quality benefits, and safe working conditions. Union security means we have a strong, protected voice at work.

The Denver Post | Jan 26, 2025

Nielsen, who left Starbucks and is now a full-time labor organizer, said trying to pass another election after the uphill climb of winning the first — with a higher threshold this time around — is “extremely anxiety-inducing and just feels super unfair.”

America’s Workforce Union Podcast | Jan 24, 2025

Dennis Dougherty, Executive Director of the Colorado AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the Worker Protection Act, a bill to change Colorado's unique and sometimes problematic labor law structure.

Colorado Newsline | Jan 22, 2025

The bill would eliminate a second election in the private sector required by Colorado’s Labor Peace Law. The requirement for the second election is unique to Colorado. Currently, employees can unionize with a simple majority vote per federal law, but they must participate in a second vote with three-fourths approval in order to negotiate union security.

Summit Daily | Jan 22, 2025

Dubbed the Worker Protection Act, the bill would remove the need for workplaces to hold a second election before unions can negotiate certain fees from all employees — even if they don’t belong to the union. 

Colorado Public Radio | Jan 21, 2025

One of the top priorities for Colorado Democrats for the legislative session, a bill to make it easier for workers to fully unionize, passed its first test at the state capitol on Tuesday.

City Cast Denver | Jan 21, 2025

In the spring of 2022, baristas at the Starbucks on Rock Creek Circle in Superior became the first Colorado location to unionize. Liza Nielsen was on the front lines of that union battle as a barista and shift organizer. Fast forward to today — she’s taking the cause to the Colorado Senate where she will be testifying in favor of the Worker Protection Act.

The Colorado Sun | Jan 20, 2025

Colorado’s outdated labor law is rooted in unmistakable racism. Now is the time to modernize the law to provide all workers — especially workers of color — with the freedom to organize a union so they can openly voice their opinions at work and negotiate on safety and pay.

Colorado Politics | Jan 17, 2025

My top priority for this session is focusing on the foundational, bread-and-butter Democratic values of uplifting the middle class, supporting workers, and lowering costs for families. I’m of course prioritizing the Worker Protection Act as my first bill to ensure that workers can unionize without unnecessary restrictions.

People’s World | Jan 13, 2025

The battle, pitting the state AFL-CIO and its progressive allies versus the Denver Area Chamber of Commerce and its corporate cronies, revolves around the “Labor Peace Act” that for decades has made the Centennial State a half-out, half-in right to work state.

Yellow Scene Magazine | Jan 9, 2025

Today Sens. Robert Rodriguez (D-Denver, Majority Leader) and Jessie Danielson (D-Wheat Ridge) introduced the Worker Protection Act (SB25-005) to update Colorado’s labor law so workers have more freedom to negotiate for better pay and workplace safety.

More Perfect Union | Jan 8, 2025

Corporations are planning an assault on workers’ rights once Trump takes office. It's time for Democrats to fight at the state level. In over a dozen states the Democrats have the power to overturn anti-union laws or pass key worker protections. Now they need to act.

The Denver Post | Dec 17, 2024

The system is rigged against us but in January, Colorado lawmakers will be able to give workers a fighting chance bypassing the Worker Protection Act to empower workers to negotiate for better pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions.

Pagosa Daily Post | Nov 21, 2024

The bill, dubbed the Worker Protection Act, would repeal a requirement that workers win a second election — on top of the one to form their union — to require fees from every worker that the union represents. Colorado is the only state to have that requirement, which is part of the state’s 1943 Labor Peace Act.

Colorado Politics | Nov 19, 2024

Here in Colorado, despite our state’s recent liberal reputation — with Democrats leading the governor’s office, state Senate and House — our outdated labor laws make us one of the “reddest” blue states when it comes to workers' rights.

Denver7 | Nov 19, 2024

Colorado Worker Rights United, a new coalition of workers and labor activists, joined a group of progressive state lawmakers who plan to introduce the Worker Protection Act. Supporters say the proposal will expand worker rights in Colorado.

Colorado Newsline | Nov 19, 2024

The bill, dubbed the Worker Protection Act, would repeal a requirement that workers win a second election — on top of the one to form their union — to require fees from every worker that the union represents. Colorado is the only state to have that requirement, which is part of the state’s 1943 Labor Peace Act.

The Denver Post | Nov 19, 2024

The proposal, which will not be introduced until the legislative session starts in early January, would repeal an 81-year-old requirement that unions in Colorado pass a second election before they can begin negotiating union dues and fees.

Colorado Times Recorder | Nov 19, 2024

A coalition of Colorado workers, union activists, and grassroots organizers announced today the launch of Colorado Worker Rights United (CWRU) and partnered with Democratic state legislators to introduce the Worker Protection Act.

Colorado Politics | Nov 19, 2024

A major fight is brewing at the state Capitol, where unions plan to push for legislation they said would give workers "more freedom to negotiate for workplace safety and better pay" but which business groups warned would upend a system that is pivotal attracting companies and keeping Colorado economically competitive.

The Sum & Substance | Nov 19, 2024

A group of Democratic legislators hopes to upend Colorado’s 81-year-old Labor Peace Act governing workforce unionization, saying Tuesday that they will introduce a bill to end its requirement for a second election before union negotiators can collect fees from workers.

Denver Business Journal | Nov 19, 2024

A bill to change part of longtime labor laws would make it easier to form unions, supporters say.