Nick and I have a lot in common. Nick is a ski patroller at Eldora Mountain, and I am a crisis clinician at Clinica Family Health and Wellness. We both work hard to keep our communities safe and healthy, but there's a key difference: my union has union security, while Nick’s newly organized union does not yet have full union security.
Living and working in Boulder County is expensive — 40% higher than the national average, with soaring costs for rent, utilities, food and transportation. The average home price exceeds a million dollars, putting homeownership out of reach for most working people.
My union gives me security. I can negotiate fair wages, cost-of-living increases, quality benefits, and safe working conditions. Union security means we have a strong, protected voice at work. Nick and his colleagues recently organized their union, but because they have not yet made a decision on whether to hold a second election to secure union security, their ability to fully negotiate and protect their rights is limited.
Ski patrollers perform critical, dangerous work. They risk injury from skiing accidents, chainsaws, explosives and exposure to bodily fluids while keeping the skiing public safe. Yet, Eldora doesn’t offer health insurance until a worker’s third season. Nick and his coworkers endure low wages, no overtime pay until 56 hours a week, negligible raises, and have to fight for cost-of-living adjustments. Most even live with multiple roommates just to afford essentials like food and gas.
Nick’s coworkers recently voted to unionize, winning recognition with a majority vote. However, Colorado law forces them to hold a second election before they can fully negotiate their contract and secure union security. This outdated law requires an overwhelming 75% supermajority just to discuss union security — the foundation that enables unions to cover the cost of representing workers fairly.
The second election weakens unions. It was designed almost a century ago when working people of color were being targeted for organizing better conditions. Big corporations lobbied for this law to make it harder for workers to unionize, and Colorado remains the only state with a Democratic trifecta still enforcing such laws.
After a first union election, workers are often subjected to retaliation, threats and intimidation tactics like cutting hours or firing key organizers. This second election gives corporations another opportunity to spread anti-union rhetoric and suppress organizing efforts.
When my colleagues and I faced our second election, it was chaotic. Some workers didn’t receive ballots, while others were confused about why a second vote was even necessary. Despite winning with 100% support, the six-week process delayed progress when we could have been negotiating better conditions. It wasted our time and state resources.
Nick and his fellow patrollers remain stuck in unsafe conditions — dealing with intoxicated skiers, dangerous tasks, low pay and no job security — because of this unnecessary barrier. Workers deserve the right to form a union with just one vote.
The Worker Protection Act, introduced in the Colorado Legislature this January, would eliminate the second election requirement and empower workers to negotiate for union security after their initial vote. This simple change would give workers a fair shot at improving their workplaces without unnecessary delays and corporate interference.
Unions benefit entire communities. On average, union members earn 10% more than their nonunion peers, with even greater wage boosts for workers of color — 13% for Black workers and nearly 19% for Hispanic workers. That extra income circulates in the local economy, boosting prosperity for everyone.
A Princeton study cited in a recent Colorado Fiscal Report also confirmed that unionization does not cause businesses to fail or relocate. In fact, unionized workplaces tend to have higher productivity and stronger economic stability.
At Clinica, my union gives me the confidence to advocate for both my clients and my own well-being. Knowing we have collective power makes us feel safer and more respected in the workplace. Our community deserves workers who can take sick days, speak up about safety, and negotiate for better wages and benefits.
The people who keep us safe while skiing and snowboarding deserve respect, safety, and fair compensation. It’s time for Colorado to end the outdated second election law. I have the freedom to express my views because my union protects me. Nick and his coworkers deserve the same.
Karli McClure has worked as a crisis clinician for four years at Clinica Family Health and Wellness in Boulder and is a proud member of SEIU Local 105.