LP Members & Union Leaders Call To Overturn WPA Veto

Denver, CO—Today, a group of local elected officials and labor leaders criticized the Governor’s veto of the Worker Protection Act (WPA). Even today, Colorado still lags behind other progressive states in removing roadblocks and barriers to allow workers their constitutional right to organize. The outdated “Labor Peace Act” has prevented thousands of workers across the state from forming unions, thus keeping them from securing higher wages, better working conditions, and dignity on the job. Despite overwhelming support from the legislature, Governor Polis has sided with business interests to continue to block working people from their straightforward right to join a union. 

In response to the veto, the organizing committee of the Local Progress Colorado Chapter released the following statement.

“Unions are the bedrock of this country. They’re the reason we have weekends, children don’t work in factories, and millions of people were able to achieve the American dream for decades. Colorado’s labor laws are some of the most regressive in the nation, and Governor Polis’ veto today will sadly keep us there. The Worker Protection Act is a long-overdue legislative fix to the undue burden our state has put on workers’ constitutional right to organize. For years, workers and elected leaders have sought to bring Colorado’s rules in line with other progressive states, but despite popular support, Governor Polis has sided with his corporate backers. 

As local elected officials from across the state, we’ve been proud to stand in solidarity with working people in Colorado. From walking picket lines to organizing our neighbors, we know our communities are stronger when government works with organized labor, not against it. We urge the legislature to stand with working people in this state and override this veto as soon as possible.”

Back in April, Local Progress members delivered a letter to the Governor signed by almost two dozen local officials from diverse communities across the state. Hearing from constituents regularly on the barriers to organize because of the Labor Peace Act, local officials have been some of the strongest allies to the labor movement in advocating for the passage of the Worker Protection Act. In a direct show of solidarity, local officials part of the Local Progress network even joined striking King Soopers workers back in February to demonstrate how local leaders have working people’s backs.