Bargaining Victories in Pueblo Show the Power of a Union Contract

As every Coloradan knows, Pueblo is a union town. AFSCME Colorado members are living proof:  in the last few months, AFSCME members across Pueblo City won big contract victories. 

Since October, AFSCME members at Pueblo City, Pueblo Water, and Pueblo Housing have all won new contracts with big improvements at work. 

All of these contracts include strong wage increases that help offset Colorado’s rising cost of living. City workers with Local 1712 got a 3.25% raise this year, with increases to other compensation like tool allowances and differential pay. Pueblo Water employees with Local 1045 got a 2% raise, alongside a more accurate reflection of the true cost of living in Pueblo. 

“Pueblo’s cost of living is equivalent to Denver,” said Rob Petersen, President of AFSCME Local 1045. “Now our contract reflects that reality and get members will see a 17-20% bigger raise every year.” 

These contracts go beyond wages too, winning important union rights like binding arbitration, better benefits, and more time off.  Pueblo Housing workers won a contract with a lot to celebrate better sick time, better pay for snow removal and on-call time, longevity pay starting at year three, and language for grievance and discipline that will protect workers from managerial overreach. 

“The new contract is a big step forward for us as workers,” said Gary Quintana, President of Local 155D. “Our union is about giving us safety and security on the job, and in our lives in general. This contract gives us exactly that” 

Together, these victories show the power of a union contract. By coming together, these workers are raising standards for themselves and for the services they provide.