Latest news with #WorkerProtectionAct
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Polis vetoes Colorado bill that would have eased union formation
State Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat, speaks at a rally outside the Governor's Residence in Denver, where labor advocates urged Gov. Jared Polis to sign Senate Bill 25-5, the Worker Protection Act, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a bill on Friday afternoon that would have repealed a requirement for a second election to form a union, a provision that's unique to the state. The veto was expected, as Polis, a Democrat, said from the start of the 2025 state legislative session that he wanted to see a compromise between labor and business interests over the issue. That never came. Senate Bill 25-5 would have repealed the state requirement for a second election following a simple majority vote, per federal law, to form a union. The second vote requires 75% approval for workers to be able to negotiate whether every employee must pay into representation fees, regardless of union membership. Colorado is the only state to have that system. It was created through the Labor Peace Act over 80 years ago. 'I believe there must be a high threshold of worker participation and approval to allow for bargaining over mandatory wage deduction. And SB 25-005 does not satisfy that threshold, which is why I am vetoing the bill,' Polis wrote in his veto letter. 'Nonetheless, I was and remain open to changes to the Labor Peace Act. The law can and should be amended to more fairly allow workers to choose union security.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Polis wrote that the current system makes it easier to fully unionize at smaller companies than at larger ones 'where organizing might be even more important.' He encouraged labor and business leaders to continue conversations about how to update the law. 'This two election framework makes Colorado a unique 'hybrid,' allowing for union security unlike 'open shop' states, but requiring a high threshold of approval to achieve it. I am disappointed we did not find common ground that would have resulted in me signing an updated and fairer Labor Peace Act,' he wrote. The bill was a priority for labor groups and progressive Democrats in the Legislature this year. It passed on party-line votes in both chambers, which Democrats control by wide margins. 'This veto from Governor Polis is a betrayal of working people in Colorado, but also one we are not surprised about,' Wynn Howell, Colorado Working Families Party state director, said in a statement after the veto. 'Given that he is one of the wealthiest men in Colorado, it is no shock that he is woefully out of touch with public opinion on this question.' Howell called on Attorney General Phil Weiser and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, two Democrats in the race for Colorado governor next year, to weigh in on whether they would have signed the bill. 'Will Senator Bennet or AG Weiser stand with workers? Or will they just be more of the same stale and out of touch anti-worker politics in Colorado? Neither one has said publicly whether they would sign the Worker Protection Act, and at this point their silence is deafening. We urge them to answer that question clearly and unambiguously,' they wrote. Business groups applauded the veto. 'CCA members value the voice of their employees,' Colorado Contractors Association President and CEO Tony Milo said in a statement. 'It is of utmost importance to ensure their voices count when it comes to deducting union dues from their paychecks. The Governor did the right thing today for workers across Colorado.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These bills on labor issues passed the Colorado Legislature in 2025
Labor advocates rallied outside the Governor's Residence in Denver to urge Gov. Jared Polis to sign Senate Bill 25-5, the Worker Protection Act, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Colorado's 2025 legislative session exposed some sharp fault lines within the Democratic Party when it comes to labor issues. Though Democrats hold solid majorities in both the state Senate and the House of Representatives, measures backed by progressive lawmakers to protect workers from extreme heat and to prohibit the use of surveillance-based algorithms to set wages were among the bills that died in the face of opposition from moderates. The session's biggest priority for labor groups, a bill aimed at making it easier for workers to unionize, made it through both chambers of the Legislature but is expected to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis at the behest of business groups. The party's progressive and moderate wings clashed over several other proposals, including a bitter fight over changes to tipped minimum wage laws. Here are the major labor bills lawmakers enacted before adjourning their regular legislative session on May 7. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Senate Bill 25-5 would repeal the state's Labor Peace Act, a 1943 law that erected a unique obstacle to workers seeking to form a union in Colorado. Under the law, unionizing workers, after winning a simple majority vote to form a union, must hold a second election and obtain 75% approval to negotiate so-called union security — a requirement that all represented workers pay dues, even if they don't support the union. The Labor Peace Act is effectively a modified version of the so-called 'right to work' rules enacted by many conservative states. Democratic majorities in the Legislature approved SB-5, dubbed the Worker Protection Act. But Polis said earlier this year that he would only sign the bill if it met the approval of business groups like the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. When talks between the two sides stalled, lawmakers passed SB-5 anyway. Polis has indicated he will veto the bill. He has until June 6 to do so. Labor leaders have vowed to revive the Worker Protection Act next year. As originally introduced, House Bill 25-1208 would have meant steep wage cuts for tipped workers in Denver and Boulder, forcing those cities to dramatically increase their 'tip credits' — the dollar amount that employers can subtract from the minimum wage paid to tipped workers, as long as tips make up the difference. The bill's sponsors, Denver Democratic Reps. Steven Woodrow and Alex Valdez, pitched the wage cuts as necessary relief for a struggling restaurant industry. But they backed off that plan after intense pushback from labor and progressive groups and a series of long, contentious committee hearings at the Capitol. Instead, the amended version of HB-1208 would allow, but not require, local governments to increase their tip credits. In theory, a local government could raise the minimum wage for non-tipped employees as high as it wished, while maintaining a tipped minimum wage of $11.79 an hour, the statewide minimum. Polis has not yet taken action on the bill. House Bill 25-1001 would make a variety of changes aimed at combating wage theft, including raising the cap on wage-theft claims from $7,500 to $13,000, streamlining the process of adjudicating claims and increasing penalties on employers for repeated and 'willful violations' of the law. 'Colorado workers lose hundreds of millions of dollars per year in wages due to theft from bad-acting employers,' Sen. Chris Kolker, a Centennial Democrat and HB-1001 sponsor, said in a statement on the bill's passage. 'With this legislation, Colorado's labor force would more quickly and easily access their owed wages so they are fairly compensated for the work they do.' The bill was approved by Democrats on party-line votes in the House and Senate. Polis has yet to take action on the bill. Senate Bill 25-128 would repeal a provision in state law guaranteeing access by 'key service providers' — including medical personnel, attorneys, legal advocates and clergy — to farmworkers on private agricultural properties during off hours. That protection was passed by Democratic majorities in the Legislature in 2021 as part of a larger piece of legislation known as the Farmworkers Bill of Rights. Sponsors, including Democratic Sen. Dylan Roberts of Avon and Republican Sen. Byron Pelton of Sterling, said the 'cleanup bill' was needed after a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found a similar access provision enacted in California unconstitutional. The bill would leave intact the vast majority of the wide-ranging 2021 farmworkers' rights measure. Some farmworker advocates opposed SB-128, arguing the law's protections for health care provider access weren't covered by the Supreme Court ruling and should be left in place. The bill passed with bipartisan support, with a handful of progressive Democrats in both chambers opposed. Polis has not yet taken action on it. Senate Bill 25-83 would extend Colorado's prohibition on 'restrictive employment agreements,' including non-solicitation and non-compete agreements, to cover physicians, dentists and advanced practice nurses. Those professions would no longer be included in the category of 'highly compensated workers' that are exempted from the non-compete ban under current law. Bipartisan majorities in the Legislature approved SB-83, with a handful of Republicans opposed. Polis has yet to take action on the bill. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado labor groups turn to 2026 ballot fight ahead of expected Worker Protection Act veto
Labor advocates rallied outside the Governor's Residence in Denver to urge Gov. Jared Polis to sign Senate Bill 25-5, the Worker Protection Act on Tuesday. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Colorado labor unions rallied outside the governor's residence in Denver on Tuesday, making one last appeal to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis to sign into law a bill passed by the Legislature to repeal a unique obstacle in state law for workers seeking to form a union. 'There is broad support for this from every corner of the state and everywhere in between,' state Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat and sponsor of Senate Bill 25-5, told a crowd of a few dozen advocates in Governor's Park. 'The public wants it. The workers need it. It's the right thing to do, and the time is now. Gov. Polis, sign the Worker Protection Act into law.' But Polis is expected to veto the measure, siding with business groups who want to preserve the state's 80-year-old Labor Peace Act. Under that law, Colorado workers organizing a union must hold a second election and obtain 75% approval to determine if workers who don't support the union would have to pay representation fees, a modified version of the so-called 'right to work' rules enacted by many conservative states. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With a veto expected, supporters of SB-5 are instead turning their attention to the ballot box, where they hope to make gains on a different policy front in 2026. Initiative 43, a proposed ballot measure filed earlier this year, would require 'just cause' for employee terminations, a significant change to the state's at-will employment laws. The measure would require private-sector employers to provide notice of 1 of 7 causes for termination, including willful misconduct, gross insubordination or 'specific economic circumstances that directly and adversely affect the employer.' Fired employees who don't believe their terminations met the just-cause criteria could file civil actions in state court seeking reinstatement or other relief. The public wants it. The workers need it. It's the right thing to do, and the time is now. Gov. Polis, sign the Worker Protection Act into law. – State Sen. Jessie Danielson The initiative was approved for circulation by the state's Title Board last month, and advocates began gathering petition signatures at Tuesday's rally. To qualify for the 2026 ballot, the campaign will need to submit at least 124,238 valid signatures from registered Colorado voters before an Oct. 24 deadline. As a statutory measure, it would become law with a simple majority vote. The Colorado AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union Local 105 and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 are among the unions backing Initiative 43. 'At a moment when the nation has recognized that corporate billionaires are rigging the system against us, Coloradans came together to build solidarity, worker power and a fairer vision for our future,' Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, said in a statement. 'This legislative session was the opportunity Colorado's labor movement needed to build the power needed to pass pro-worker policies, whether through legislation or at the ballot.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Scotsman
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Businesses that lead on inclusion today will thrive in the future
Mental health and neurodiversity require more nuanced approaches in the workplace, says Musab Hemsi Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Inclusion is no longer optional for UK businesses. With major legislative changes – including the Worker Protection Act 2023, European Accessibility Act in 2025 and the Employment Rights Bill – companies must act now to stay compliant and create truly inclusive environments and workplaces. These reforms offer a chance for organisations to move beyond basic compliance and develop workplaces where diversity and inclusion can drive business success. Inclusion is nothing new to the business world. Many of us will recall the major milestones included in the Equality Act 2010, which empowered individuals to demand reasonable adjustments and hold employers accountable. Since then, increasing awareness of mental health and neurodiversity has made inclusion a business imperative. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Historically, businesses focused on physical impairments, ensuring facilities were accessible. However, mental health and neurodiversity now dominate the inclusion discourse, requiring more nuanced solutions. Occupational health is a powerful but often underutilised tool in this space. Engaging proactively with occupational health professionals allows businesses to assess individual needs and create tailored, sustainable solutions. Innovative steps can include sensory rooms for individuals with autism, and providing faith-friendly or breastfeeding spaces at conferences. However, true inclusivity requires a collaborative approach, where individuals define the necessary adjustments and employers approach conversations with an open mind. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), which comes into force in June 2025, introduces stricter digital and workplace accessibility standards. While the EAA primarily applies to UK businesses trading with the European Union, its influence will extend throughout the EU and beyond its borders, setting higher expectations for digital inclusion. A key requirement of the EAA is that businesses conduct Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) to evaluate how their products and services affect individuals with protected characteristics. This process identifies practical steps to improve accessibility, ensuring that services are inclusive from the outset. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad AI-powered recruitment platforms and other virtual tools, while enhancing efficiency, carry the risk of unintentionally reinforcing biases and leading to discriminatory outcomes. Without careful oversight, these systems can perpetuate inequality, exposing businesses to legal and reputational risks. To mitigate this, companies should assess, test and refine their digital systems in a proactive way. Engaging a legal specialist during the implementation of new technologies ensures compliance with best practices and helps safeguard against potential discrimination claims in the future. The Employment Rights Bill will likely strengthen employer responsibilities around neurodiversity, mental health, flexible working, and workplace accessibility. It signals a move toward digital inclusion, ensuring that remote and hybrid work environments are as inclusive as traditional office settings. For small businesses, complying with evolving laws may seem overwhelming. However, taking steps such as conducting EQIAs, risk assessments, and engaging employees through surveys, can be managed internally at little or no financial cost. The key is to engage staff genuinely and seek feedback on their needs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For forward-thinking businesses, these upcoming legal reforms present an opportunity to build inclusive workplaces that attract and retain top talent. Inclusive practices can enhance employee satisfaction, boost retention rates, and improve customer experiences. The time to act is now. Businesses that lead on inclusion today will be best positioned to thrive in a more diverse and inclusive future.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to remove Colorado requirement for second vote to unionize passes House committee
Kaiser Permanente workers with the SEIU Local 105 union strike on Oct. 4, 2023, at the Lakewood Medical Offices in Colorado. (Lindsey Toomer/ Colorado Newsline) 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. Senate Bill 25-5, dubbed the Worker Protection Act, would eliminate a second election mandated by Colorado's Labor Peace Act to form a union, a requirement unique to Colorado that passed in the 1940s. Federal law allows employees to unionize with a simple majority vote, but Colorado workers must participate in a second vote with 75% approval to determine if workers who don't support the union have to pay representation fees. 'Strong worker protections and thriving business go hand in hand,' said Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat who sponsored the bill. 'All of us want business to thrive, but businesses thriving should not be on the backs of workers. It shouldn't be based on paying workers wages where they can't afford to live in the communities that they serve.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, meeting at the Colorado Capitol in Denver, voted 7-5 to pass the bill along party lines, with Republicans voting against it after witness testimony ran late into the night. One Democrat on the committee, Rep. Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch, was excused during the vote. He offered an amendment the committee ultimately did not vote on because it was determined to be outside the scope of the bill's title, and bill sponsors said neither workers nor business asked for the changes the amendment proposed. In his opening remarks, Mabrey emphasized the fact that five former U.S. secretaries of Labor wrote to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis in support of the bill in early February, saying the requirement for a second vote creates 'an unnecessary barrier' to unionization. Polis has suggested that he will not support the legislation unless a compromise arises. At a press conference Thursday, Polis told reporters the bill is about 'the right of workers to have a say on whether they're forced to pay union dues,' and that a second election provides that. He said he will support a solution that presents 'a way of organizing that's more stable,' though he would not state directly whether he would sign the bill as is. 'I'm optimistic that labor and business are talking. I hope that those conversations are fruitful,' Polis said. 'I encourage both sides to come to an agreement that is good for business and good for labor.' Strong worker protections and thriving business go hand in hand. – State Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat Rep. Max Brooks, a Castle Rock Republican on the business committee, asked if the second vote was a 'barrier' as bill sponsors described it, or more of an additional step. Assistant House Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, a Denver Democrat who also sponsored the bill, said the requirement for a second election adds more time that businesses and employers can dissuade workers from voting in favor of a union. 'If we know that a community of workers believes they want to work together, they should be able to make that decision once and not be challenged to have to do it again,' Bacon said. 'If we want to call it step, I'd be OK with that, but I do want to recognize that the step is much more rigorous than the first.' Terri Monley, who owns a 'family-owned and operated' moving company in Denver that opened in the 1970s, said the requirement for a second vote is 'an antiquated law that serves no common good.' She told the committee the decision on whether a contract should include union security should be between the workers and their employer. 'For far too long, the state Legislature has put the economic desires and the wants of the wealthiest above the rest of us,' Monley said. 'Putting arbitrary and onerous laws on people who are trying to form a union only delays and lengthens the process. There is no point to this tactic, except in helping businesses wear down their employees. And Colorado should have no role in this tactic.' Jeremy Ross, who spoke on behalf of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said 'not a single worker' has testified in opposition to the bill. He said workers have 'choice' throughout the whole process of unionizing and what the union will do for them. 'Not a single worker (came) up here and said, 'I am in a position where I was forced to pay union dues and I have no voice in where those union dues go,'' he said. 'The union process is a Democratic process from the very beginning, from the very second that you elect a union or if you're getting employment at a union employer.' Leaders with various business associations, chambers of commerce and companies testified against the bill. Sonia Riggs, president and CEO of the Colorado Restaurant Association, said the restaurant industry is 'being directly targeted by unions,' listing businesses in the state that have unionized in recent years. 'This bill is extremely burdensome for Colorado restaurant workers,' Riggs said. 'Any employee who isn't able to be there for the proposed one and only union vote for any reason — a school exam, a sick child or parent, bad weather or simply working a different shift — is denied a voice in an important decision that impacts whether or not they are forced to pay union dues or quit their jobs.' The bill passed the Colorado Senate in a 22-12 vote along party lines in February, with Republicans in opposition. It will now move to the House Appropriations Committee before it is heard on the House floor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
