La Plataforma del Pueblo Trabajador | Promesa de la Plataforma del Pueblo Trabajador
Today, members of SEIU Local 105 released the Working People’s Platform, a set of principles that will guide us to an economy and democracy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.
The Working People’s Platform consists of seven tenets that lift up the goals and recognize the every day struggles of working people in Colorado and our nation.
The Working People’s Platform came together over the past year and a half, as a result of meetings, retreats, and planning sessions. Members created a narrative that encompasses the values and issues most relevant to working people across our state and our nation.
Local 105 members are asking candidates for office in Colorado to stand up for workers by signing the Working People’s Platform Pledge. Colorado needs legislators who are willing to speak up and show up for working people, such as the home care aides, airport security employees, custodians, clinicians, and countless others who make up our membership.
Candidates who sign on to the Working People’s Platform Pledge are vowing to stand up for the rights of workers who are being exploited by big corporations, their CEOs, and policies that favor businesses over people.
Below is the full text of the Platform.
Working People’s Platform
We demand a Colorado where our economy and democracy work for all of us, not just the wealthy few!
We will fight for:
- The freedom to form a union without interference or fear of retaliation
- The rights of working people are fundamental to democracy and a strong economy. Unions and other worker-led organizations play a vital role in our society by providing balance to the power of corporations and billionaires in our economy and democracy, enabling working people to organize together and negotiate fair wages, so we can care for and support our families. When we have good union jobs and other forms of worker organization, including at airports and health centers, our economy is stronger and our communities thrive
- People call the current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election system to organize a union a secret ballot election—but in fact it’s not like any democratic election held anywhere else in our society. It’s really a management-controlled election process because corporations have all the power. They control the information workers can receive and routinely poison the process by intimidating, harassing, coercing and even firing people who try to organize unions. No employee has free choice after being browbeaten by a supervisor to oppose the union or being told they may lose their job and livelihood if workers vote for the union.
- Higher Wages
- Economic security is a basic human right. Big corporations use their power to hold down wages and benefits. Instead, corporations should honor workers as people and serve the public interest. We believe in a worker-led economy that values work and lifts people up. Working families are the engines of the economy. When we thrive, our communities thrive.
- Racial justice
- We value, uplift and protect the humanity and human dignity of every person, no exceptions. Diversity supercharges economic growth and prosperity. When working people have the freedom to organize together, we break down barriers and raise standards for everyone.
- Immigrant Justice
- Everybody – no matter age, background, race, gender or status – has the opportunity to live meaningful, fulfilling lives in strong, thriving communities where we take care of each other and everyone contributes to their full potential.
- Affordable, quality health-care
- Thriving communities are healthy communities where working people have the freedom to organize and negotiate for quality care that benefits all families.
- Affordable housing
- Working families can afford their housing in safe, thriving communities, without the fear of being forced to move because of soaring rents and housing prices.
- A clean environment
- For all of us to thrive, the planet must thrive. We demand a just transition to an economy where working families and our environment thrive in tandem, with clean energy powered by good union jobs, and adequate support for displaced workers and impacted communities.
Working People’s Platform Pledge
We demand a Colorado where our economy and democracy work for all of us, not just the wealthy few!
As Governor of Colorado I will fight, both publicly and with the power of my office, for:
- Policies that allow all working people the freedom to form a union without employer interference, and and I will stand with and fight for working people when they organize a union or other form of worker organization, including workers organizing at the airport and health centers.
- Allowing local governments to raise the minimum wage above the statewide level if they so choose, and for other policies to raise wages
- Policies that address longstanding economic barriers faced by people of color.
- Support for hardworking immigrants who are contributing to our economy, and to oppose anti-immigrant policies that separate families.
- Protecting the Affordable Care Act and make quality healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Coloradans.
- Policies that address the rising cost of housing by raising wages and lowering costs.
- Policies that transition Colorado to clean energy, with union jobs and support for impacted workers and communities.
