Labor Resolution

The following resolution has been submitted for consideration by the Denver Democratic Central Committee by Wynn Howell, Precinct Organizer for Precinct 808. Because this resolution was proposed after the 10-day notification required by Party Rules, the Central Committee must suspend the rules by ⅔ vote to be considered.

The Resolution

WHEREAS, The Democratic Party of Denver (DPOD) supports the struggle to improve workers’ rights and standards, including wages, benefits, and worker safety protections; and

WHEREAS, DPOD believes that workers who organize together in unions are more able to effectively advocate for improvements to workers’ rights and standards than they could as individuals, and 

WHEREAS, corporate greed in America and in Colorado has resulted in stagnant or declining wages and other standards for working people, even as the cost of living has increased significantly in many places in our nation, including Denver; and 

WHEREAS, too many large corporations which make significant profits choose to handsomely compensate their executives and shareholders while simultaneously demanding further reductions in standards for workers via both workplace practices and lobbying in the halls of governance; and 

WHEREAS, King Soopers workers in Colorado are currently on an Unfair Labor Practice strike against Kroger, one of the largest and most profitable grocery corporations in the world; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, Kroger spent $7.5 billion on a stock buyback to reward their executives and shareholders, but as of today continues to refuse to bargain in good faith over wages, benefits, safe staffing, and other working conditions with their own workers in Colorado; and

WHEREAS workers at the Alamo Drafthouse in Denver and New York City, who are members of CWA Local 7777 and UAW Local 2179, have begun an Unfair Labor Practice Strike over corporate owner Sony's sudden and unfair layoffs of dozens of workers, which were not properly bargained with the unions; and

WHEREAS, multiple other groups of workers in Colorado are currently seeking to organize into unions, including but not limited to Starbucks workers, Denver Public Library workers, CU housestaff, and many more; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that DPOD stands with working people in their struggles to organize unions and win fair contracts, and calls upon all Democrats in Denver to do the same as they are able, including by joining picket lines, contributing to strike funds, and speaking out strongly in support of workers organizing to form unions and to win improvements in their workplaces; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DPOD expresses support for all Denver workers already engaged in principled struggle to organize unions or to win fair collective bargaining agreements, including those listed above; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DPOD opposes any and all efforts to diminish, discourage or prohibit collective action by workers (aka “union busting”), whether in the private or public sector, and encourages all Democrats to steadfastly and publicly oppose union busting in all its forms.

RESOLVED this 15th day of February, 2025