Written by Rabbi Katie Mizrahi and Reverend Sheri Fry

[Excerpts]

Many of our sacred texts and traditions, including Jewish and Christian, call us to protect the vulnerable, liberate the oppressed, and respect the dignity of workers. Gov. Jared Polis had the opportunity to live out the spirit of these traditions when the historic Worker Protection Act came to his desk last week. Unfortunately, he sided with corporate interests and a broken status quo.

Our congregations — along with other Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG) member unions and civic groups — include city employees, retail salespeople, health care providers, and other workers. 

They all tell a similar story: (workers) are working longer hours, have poorer health insurance, wages are not keeping up with the cost of living, and they feel little hope that things will change.

Collective bargaining has long been the bedrock of workers' rights...It gives working people the opportunity to organize on their own behalf.

The Worker Protection Act would have removed Colorado’s onerous second election for workers to have the right to bargain a union security clause, which ensures all workers covered by the collective bargaining agreement contribute financially to the union’s work. (This) creates additional opportunities for underhanded, anti-union tactics from employers and is one more barrier to worker voice.

In April, CCG hosted its 4th Annual Interfaith Labor Seder. The Seder brought together 350 faith, labor, and civic leaders to stand with working people — showing deep support for workers’ rights throughout our institutions. We heard stories of wage theft, of anti-union intimidation tactics, of attempts by our elected leaders to cut already-low wages for tipped workers, and of appalling working conditions.

We committed to each other, as workers and people of faith, to stand together against the plague of on-the-job injustices. By vetoing the Worker Protection Act, Gov. Polis has helped perpetuate these plagues. He has upheld an outdated system, rooted in the anti-union politics of Colorado’s past political leaders, that makes it more difficult for workers to stand up for themselves.

His action all but ensures that we will continue to hear stories like those we heard at this year’s Labor Seder. Although we are disappointed by the Governor’s recent veto, we will honor our commitments to continue fighting for the rights of workers and the realization of our tradition’s commitment to justice.

Rabbi Katie Mizrahi is with the B’nai Havurah Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation and CCG. Reverend Sheri Fry is with Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church and CCG.

Polis Missed an Opportunity to Stand with Workers by Vetoing Worker Protection Act, The Denver Post [pdf]