Denver City Council to consider employee collective bargaining ballot measure [Video]

DENVER — Come November, Denver voters may be able to decide whether or not the majority of city employees are allowed to participate in collective bargaining.

“Right now, the only city employees that are able to participate in collective bargaining and are part of unions are our Denver Fire Department, Denver Police Department, and our Sheriffs [Department],” said At-Large Denver City Council Member Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez.

Gonzales-Gutierrez is one of several city council members who support the effort to get the issue on the November ballot.

If passed, all career service employees and employees with the city council, Library Commission, Civil Service Commission, Board of Adjustment and Denver Water would be eligible for collective bargaining. It would not include Denver Health and Hospital Authority employees and any supervisory and confidential employees.

“This is an opportunity to make sure that their voices are at the table when we are thinking about these …