When “Work” Hands You Lemons
When I got laid off from my tech job I almost immediately knew two things. I wanted to be sure to continue to be involved with unions, and after 25+ years in software, I needed a break. Lucky for me the Boulder Area Labor Council had just the right ticket. Along came a chance to make a big difference for thousands of workers earning a paltry $13.65 for minimum wage. There’s a pretty great law in Colorado, passed in 2019, that allows local governments to set a higher wage than the state. Turns out, only Denver County had taken advantage of this. Seemed crazy to me that Boulder County (where I was working), as one of the most expensive places to live in Colorado, hadn’t also done so as well. I decided to get involved in organizing for this campaign, joining a coalition of more than 25 non-profit and union organizations. We’ve been making some great progress working at the hyper-local level, with city councils across the county. Far too many workers, many deemed “essential” during the pandemic, aren’t being properly paid for their labor; not since changes to minimum wage have not also been implemented with the changes in the economy. A living wage would actually be $25 an hour, so it’s important to get this changed asap.
What’s your county doing for your workers? This state law doesn’t require a huge across-state, or worse federal, ballot push. All you’ve got to do is start asking your county commissioner and city council members “when are we too finally going to step up for our workers and get them better wages, instead of just platitudes”. If you live or work in Boulder County, sign our petition to tell your local official you support paying fellow workers a living wage, and do it by 2024. Thinking about your own county? Start asking your council why they haven’t started already.
