Denver Public Library Workers United Newsletter (August/September 2024)
Three years ago, union members met with DPL Administration and were told that they can’t work with us since Denver city employees did not have collective bargaining rights. We were told we could try to change the Denver city charter to give municipal workers collective bargaining rights.
Since then, we have worked tirelessly to do just that and, so far, DPLWU has been successful in our effort to win these essential rights. In July, after thousands of signatures were gathered in support of our amendment, Denver City Council unanimously referred our amendment to voters, with support from Mayor Johnston. This November, Denver will vote to change the City Charter to give many City and County of Denver employees collective bargaining rights.
It is time Denver joins many cities around the country and world that already have collective bargaining rights for all of their municipal workers. We are excited for DPL to join the many libraries in this country where workers have a union contract that gives us a strong voice in decision-making, and the job security and fair pay we deserve.
Union contracts can cover
- job classifications, pay rates, and raises
- cost of living adjustments
- disciplinary rules and processes
- safety policies, including minimum staffing
- paid and optional lunch breaks
- leave and PTO accruals
- language and shift differentials
- hiring and promotions
- benefits
- lots more!
Employees covered by union contracts typically can’t be fired without cause and due process, and they have protections from unfair discipline.
Visit dplworkersunited.com for more info and to join DPLWU! (page 1/2)
A study from last year found that librarians who were union members earned 27% more per week and union library assistants earned 42% more per week than their non-union counterparts. DPL workers, especially frontline staff, will benefit immensely from a union contract. We believe that managers, too, will benefit from workers having a say in our working conditions and more consistent and clear standards being applied across the library system.
Here is what we DPL employees can do to win collective bargaining rights for Denver city workers and get a strong contract for DPL employees:
- Join DPLWU and get involved in organizing your branch.
- Encourage colleagues to join and tell them about our recent wins!
- Join us for an info session and picnic on October 14, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, at Cheesman Park. There will be a new member orientation from 2-3 pm, and a picnic from 3-5 pm. All are welcome, including prospective members. See @dplworkersunited on Instagram for updates.
- Volunteer to knock on doors for the Stronger Denver/2U ballot initiative campaign. Let’s make sure that Denver city workers win collective bargaining rights this year. Sign up at strongerdenver.org
- Encourage Denver voters you know to vote yes on initiative 2U (on personal, non-work time). This is an essential way to gain more support!
- Know your rights: we are hosting a virtual training on PROPWA (new state law protecting CO public workers from retaliation) on Tuesday, October 8 at 7pm. More info & zoom link at dplworkersunited.com/calendar
- Represent DPLWU at work: talk to one of your fellow members or email alex@cwa7799.org to get a DPLWU t-shirt and lanyard. It is important that our colleagues know that there are union members among them!
DPLWU, CWA, and allies in the local labor movement have been working hard to make collective bargaining for municipal workers a reality. We have held many meetings with our mayoral administration, city council, and other stakeholders. At the last library commission meeting, we made a public comment requesting collaboration, or at least neutrality, from library administration and the Commission in our pursuit of representation by CWA and a union contract.
This is a huge year for DPLWU and Denver city workers; join us in making history!
Adapted from a public comment delivered by a DPWLU member to the DPL Commission in August 2024. More info @ dplworkersunited.com. (page 2/2)