In a rare move for a Democratic governor, Colorado’s Jared Polis just defied one of the most powerful forces in his party: the union bosses.
Polis vetoed legislation that would have repealed a key protection in Colorado’s Labor Peace Act—a second election requirement that limits when unions can force workers to join or pay dues. As Market Institute President Charles Sauer explains in RealClearMarkets, the bill would have made it easier for unions to “expand their power to force workers to join a union or pay union dues”—even in workplaces where the union no longer enjoys meaningful support.
“The union bosses’ political machine is funded by dues collected from workers—many of whom are forced to pay union dues or lose their jobs.”
Colorado is not a Right to Work state, but the Labor Peace Act requires two votes: one to recognize a union, and another—with 75% approval—to allow it to impose dues on nonmembers. Repealing that safeguard would have handed union leaders even more leverage over workers who may disagree with the union’s politics—or simply want a choice.
Polis vetoed the bill, calling the 75% requirement a necessary “high threshold” to protect workers’ freedom of association. He acknowledged the standard may need reform but stood firm on the principle that “compulsory unionism requires a high threshold of worker participation and approval.”
Singleton reminds readers that “even a supermajority of workers might favor making every one of their coworkers pay union dues”—but that still doesn’t make forced dues right. A better solution? A Right to Work law that ensures no worker is ever forced to financially support a union.
Polis deserves credit—not just for this veto, but for other breaks from progressive orthodoxy. As Singleton notes:
“This is not the only case of Governor Polis challenging Democratic Party orthodoxy… He is a champion of tax cuts… a supporter of school choice… and has opposed new regulations on business.”
Polis may not be a libertarian, but he’s shown that even in blue states, there’s room to push back on coercive policies—and to stand up for workers’ rights and economic freedom.
Colorado lawmakers should follow his lead and take the next step: make Right to Work the law of the land.
Read more at RealClearMarkets by clicking here.
