we’re building a STRONG UNION FOR A STRONG LIBRARY
July 16th the DPL Library Commission unanimously voted to send DPL employees to a union election, ignoring 400+ signed union authorization cards. THE UNION ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE BY EMAIL AUGUST 17-31.
2026
July 16 the Denver Public Library Commission unanimously voted to ignore over 400 DPL employees signing union authorization cards and demanded employees vote to prove they want a union. This was the first Library Commission in 2026 where no public comment was invited.
July 6 Library posts notice of filing form American Arbitration Association, triggering 10 days until the library must make a decision to force a vote or to recognize the union cards provided in January and again in March .
April DPLWU workers request a meeting with management through email and in person request at the office of the City Librarian, both meetings are denied. Library Commission closes their public session to the public after library workers overflow the room for public comment.
March the City and County of Denver finalizes the process to file for union recognition. CWA7799 files for union recognition March 6th. Immediately following DPL leadership claims operation workers should not be in a union with neighborhood service staff while also claiming any lead position should not be included. DPLWU/CWA7799 disagree whole heartedly. Library Leadership concedes on operations but maintains they do not want ‘lead” positions nor security guards to be in the union. CWA7799 and DPL sign a legal agreement to decide those positions in the bargaining unit at the bargaining table.
January 2 Library workers hold a press conference announcing 66% of workers signed union authorization cards and workers would like to collectively bargain with management for terms and conditions of employment. Elected City Council Officials attend in support but the City Librarian declines her invitation.
2025
DPL Workers United organized over 66% of the DPL workforce to sign union authorization cards. The list of names and job positions is sent to library leadership and the City Librarian December 22, inviting her to join a press conference to announce this number January 2nd, the request is denied.
2024
Denver City Council unanimously votes to put collective bargaining for approximately 10,000 on the ballot for Denver voters to vote. 66.8% of voters said YES! DPLWU knocked thousands of doors while attending stake holder meetings and city council meetings to ensure DPL workers won their right to collectively bargain.
If libraries support democracy, our workplaces should reflect democratic practices. A union fulfills one of the fundamental promises of democracy by giving frontline workers the opportunity to speak truth to power.
DPL’s values are our values. Our union does not stand in opposition to the ideals of our organization. We unite to ensure that these values extend internally as well as externally.
A thriving workplace can better support our community. We cannot face community-level challenges at work if we ourselves do not feel safe and secure in our jobs.
Together we make extraordinary differences for each other and for Denver. Libraries are among the most trusted public institutions in America. Together we accomplish amazing things every day. A wall-to-wall union allows us to channel our collective knowledge and wisdom into powerful collective action.
