Gov. Jared Polis confirmed Thursday that he plans to veto a bill passed by Democrats in the legislature this year that would rewrite the Colorado Labor Peace Act.
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Read moreSenate Bill 5 is a priority for the Colorado labor movement and Polis’ decision to nix the measure is sure to inflame the unfavorable view of the governor already held by unions.
The measure would abolish a requirement in the Colorado Labor Peace Act that 75% of workers at a company sign off before unions can negotiate with businesses over union security. That’s after a majority of workers vote to unionize.
Union security is the term for when workers are forced to pay fees for collective bargaining representation — whether or not they are members of their workplace’s union. Unions are required to bargain on behalf of all workers at a company, whether they are in the union or not. That’s why they feel it’s only fair that union security be imposed to cover the cost of things like lawyers and negotiating experts.
The governor has long said he opposes eliminating the union security election. But he hasn’t outright vowed to veto Senate Bill 5 — until now.
Polis told reporters Thursday that he’s “indicated very clearly” that he dislikes the measure and plans to veto it.
“I don’t know how you can interpret that any other way,” he said when asked for a clear answer on his veto plans.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks to reporters on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during a news conference in Denver about what happened during the 2025 legislative session. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)Unions blasted Polis in a written statement Thursday afternoon.
“Colorado workers deserve the freedom to form a strong union to negotiate for better pay and safety,” said Dennis Dougherty, who leads the Colorado AFL-CIO. “If Gov. Polis vetoes the Worker Protection Act, it’s kowtowing to the billionaire class rigging the system against the rest of us. Nurses, truck drivers and other workers won’t forget that the governor betrayed them with a veto.”
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Colorado union and business leaders can’t reach deal on Labor Peace Act, so Democrats will test Jared Polis’ veto pen
The governor has said he opposes any effort to repeal a requirement that workers get to vote on whether they should be forced to pay fees for collective bargaining representation — whether or not they are members of their workplace’s union
Read moreDemocrats in the legislature tried to reach a compromise on Senate Bill 5 with the labor movement, business leaders and Polis. Those negotiations fell apart over the weekend, however, and Democrats in the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 5 on Tuesday and urged Polis to sign it.
The governor said while he will veto Senate Bill 5, he’s willing to work on the issue in the future.
“People were not too far apart, but still far enough to avoid getting a (deal),” he said. “I don’t even want to use the word ‘compromise,’ because I truly believe the bill that I could sign would be better for workers and better for business.”
Union leaders have vowed to launch a national campaign opposing Polis once he vetoes Senate Bill 5.
Dougherty said the labor movement will try again next year.
“We’re just getting started,” he said. “This campaign was a big boost to Colorado’s labor movement, building solidarity, worker power and a fairer vision for our future. We’ll be back next year, not just with this bill but also with a ‘just cause’ statewide ballot measure to prevent corporations from firing workers for no reason.”
Senate Bill 5 passed the Senate 22-12 along party lines and the House 43-22 also along party lines.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
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