Overview

• Gov. Jared Polis announced on May 8 that he will veto Senate Bill 5, a measure passed by Colorado’s Democratic-led legislature to amend the state’s Labor Peace Act.
• The bill aimed to abolish the 75% worker approval threshold required before unions can negotiate union security agreements, a provision in place since 1945.
• Polis had repeatedly warned he would veto any changes to the Labor Peace Act unless a compromise was reached between labor and business groups, but negotiations failed to yield an agreement.
• Labor unions, led by the Colorado AFL-CIO, condemned the veto decision, accusing Polis of siding with corporate interests and vowing to launch a national campaign against him.
• Business coalitions, including Colorado Concern and metro Denver chambers, praised the veto, arguing that mandatory union fees without worker approval would amount to 'taxation without representation.'