Workers at Denver’s Urban Peak Win Historic First Contract After Forming Union Across Programs Supporting Unhoused Youth
DENVER, CO – After a year of negotiations, workers at Urban Peak, an organization providing a full continuum of services for youth experiencing homelessness in Denver, have secured their first-ever collective bargaining agreement, marking a significant milestone for the workers, the organization, and the youth they serve. This new contract reflects the workers’ efforts to ensure improved working conditions and protections across all programs and administrative activities supporting Denver’s youth.
In a historic move for the state of Colorado and the services industry for individuals experiencing homelessness, workers at Urban Peak voted to form a union through Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105 last year. Now, with the completion of their first contract, workers say the agreement includes important protections aimed at fostering a sustainable work environment and retaining high-quality staff for their critical programs.
“We are thrilled to have reached this agreement after months of hard work,” said Dwayne Wright, a Life Skills Manager at Urban Peak who has been with the organization for 18 years. “This contract is a huge win for staff and the youth we serve. We fought for better working conditions and long-term protections, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
The workers at Urban Peak provide essential services to youth experiencing homelessness, ranging from emergency shelter and housing assistance to case management, drop-in support, and outreach programs. Throughout their organizing efforts, workers raised concerns about issues such as high turnover rates and ensuring sustainable resources for the staff supporting these vital services.
“Forming a union and negotiating this contract was about making sure we can continue doing this important work without burning out,” said Clay Chandler, who has worked at Urban Peak as a case manager for 2 years. “This agreement is a victory for the workers and the communities we serve, helping ensure our work remains impactful and sustainable.”
The new contract was ratified by the bargaining unit, with 100% of those who participated in the ratification vote voting in favor of approval.
“Urban Peak believes in the transformational power of acceptance, and we are deeply committed to creating a culture of safety, responsibility, and respect for both the youth we serve and our team,” said Christina Carlson, CEO of Urban Peak. “The successful outcome of these negotiations is a testament to our shared commitment to sustainable, positive change and yet another significant achievement as we work together and as a community to support the most vulnerable among us.”
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The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105 is the largest healthcare union in Colorado, uniting more than 8,000 healthcare, property service, and airport workers in Colorado. Our union is part of the fastest-growing union in North America, whose 2 million members make up the largest healthcare union, the largest property services union, and the second-largest public services union.
Urban Peak is the Denver metro area’s leading organization providing services for youth experiencing homelessness, including Denver’s only licensed shelter for homeless teens and young adults along with housing, street outreach, case management, drop-in support and other services.
