FAIR AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION

• Wages that Match the Cost of Living
  Current salaries and wages are not keeping pace with inflation, housing, childcare, or transportation costs in Boulder County. Many of us struggle to make ends meet despite working full-time in public service. We are calling for the Commissioners to address the cost of living crisis and agree to raises that allow us to thrive in all areas of life. Public service employees deserve thriving wages, not poverty wages.
• Equity in Pay Progression and Classification
  Workers doing similar work should be paid similarly. Clear, consistent, and equitable opportunities to reclassify roles and advance pay grades must be made available across departments.
• Health Insurance Stipend for All Workers
  Seasonal employees perform essential public work and deserve access to affordable, quality healthcare, not just while they’re on the job, but year-round. No one should lose access to care simply because their position is seasonal.
• Equitable Paid Holidays and Time Off Temporary and seasonal workers are excluded from paid holidays when county offices are closed and earn only the minimum required sick leave. These workers provide essential services and deserve equitable access to paid holidays and vacation time, just like permanent staff.

JOB SECURITY and PROTECTIONS

• Consistent and Transparent Disciplinary Processes
  Disciplinary actions must be fair and equitable. All workers deserve a chance to understand concerns, receive coaching, and correct behavior before punitive action is taken. We urge no restrictive rules on BCEU Stewards.
• Layoff Protections and Equity in Impact Decisions
  Recent fears about layoffs and inconsistent application of impact protections create anxiety and confusion. All workers should be treated fairly during budget shortfalls, with a transparent, equitable process guiding decisions.
• Protections from Termination Due to Injury
  No worker should fear losing their job simply because they are sick or were hurt either on the job or while off-duty. Boulder County must provide fair and compassionate processes for sick and injured employees.
• Immigrant Worker Protections
  Many employees may not realize they are eligible for workplace protections related to immigration status. Boulder County should lead with policies that explicitly protect and support immigrant workers, written into a concrete contract.

COLLABORATIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT

• Input on Budget Decisions
  Workers should have a voice in shaping the county’s financial priorities. Those closest to the work are best positioned to identify cost-saving measures that minimize harm to public services and vulnerable communities.
• Prioritization of Core Services and Public Impact
  We are seeing critical social service programs weakened by unclear budget priorities. These cuts hurt the people we serve and compromise our ability to meet community needs.
• Fair Return-to-Office Policy
  Workers are being required to return to physical offices without their input. These decisions carry serious costs—childcare, commuting, and work-life disruption—yet offer no demonstrated benefit to service quality or public access. Return-to-office expectations must be negotiated at the bargaining table with a clear policy requiring transparent, data-driven reasoning.