Arapahoe County Workers Speak Up On Wages

Workers in Arapahoe County are hard at work bargaining their first union contract after voting to unionize last year. Almost a year later, workers are close to winning a strong contract. However, Arapahoe County Management has refused to offer a reasonable proposal on wages. 

So, workers circulated a petition demanding wages that reflect both the true cost of living and the vital services they provide every day. Then, they brought their call for fair wages directly to the County Commissioners' Meeting. Joined by their coworkers, workers delivered more than 270 petition signatures to the County Commissioners to make it clear to the county that a living wage is the minimum they will accept.

At the meeting, several employees gave powerful testimony about what it means to serve their community while struggling to make ends meet. .

Jeff Key, a Human Services employee, told Commissioners why wages are so important .“At the end of the day, our work is about empathy for the clients we serve and for the families we assist,” he said during testimony.  “But over my 8 years at the county my pay hasn’t reflected that same value back to us. I’ve seen only 6 dollars in raises during that time. That's less than a dollar a year in raises.”

The petition and testimony made one thing clear: Arapahoe County’s workers are united and determined to win a wage proposal that honors their commitment and ensures the county can retain the skilled public servants its residents rely on.

As bargaining continues, AFSCME Colorado members in Arapahoe County are staying organized and ready to keep the pressure on until they win a fair deal for every worker.