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DENVER, CO — The Worker Protection Act passed the House today on a preliminary vote. HB26-1005 is sponsored by Representative Javier Mabrey and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon.
“Affordability is about more than what we pay for rent and groceries; it’s also about purchasing power and setting Coloradans on a path to earn generational wealth,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “The data is clear: unionized workers earn more than their non-union counterparts in the same industry. Unions help foster an economy where working people have a fair shot and equip working people with the right to negotiate for better wages and a stronger future for themselves and their families.”
“The Worker Protection Act would uplift working people, increase wages, strengthen the middle class and help families build wealth,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The second election sets up an intentional hurdle for workers to form a union in Colorado, and this bill helps level the playing field for workers. By removing barriers to forming a union, such as the second election, we can uplift and support Colorado workers. Unions help workers negotiate for better working conditions, pay and benefits, and I’m proud to sponsor this bill.”
The Worker Protection Act (HB26-1005) updates the Colorado Labor Peace Act to make it easier for workers to negotiate a union security clause in the collective bargaining process.
Currently, Colorado labor law requires two elections for workers seeking to form a union and collect dues: one that meets the federal standard set by the National Labor Relations Act, and a second election which must be won by a supermajority approval of at least 75 percent of those who vote, or 50 percent plus one of all employees eligible to vote, whichever is greater. This process creates a uniquely high threshold for workers to achieve the right to negotiate with their employers.
The Worker Protection Act would eliminate the second election to make it easier for workers to join together to negotiate with their employers. Union member density in Colorado is below the national average of 9.9 percent. Based on 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Colorado’s union membership was 7.7 percent, far behind other states with free bargaining laws, including Minnesota (14.2 percent), Washington (16 percent), and California (14.5 percent).
Unions strengthen economies while driving more income to working families. On average, union workers earn 10.2 percent more than non-union workers with similar jobs and qualifications. Unions also play a role in increasing wages for all workers. For example, wages in states with anti-worker laws, also known as “right to work” laws, are 3.2 percent lower than in states without these laws. That translates to an average of $1,670 less per year for a non-union full-time worker.
Unions also reduce income inequality, bridge racial and gender pay gaps, and help families build wealth. Research shows that union membership is tied to larger wage gains for all workers, but union workers of color tend to experience a larger percentage of wealth gains. Additionally, unions help increase homeownership. For example, working class union households are 13 percent more likely to own a home.