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Colorado WINS Members Make the Way for a New State Holiday!

March 4, 2022

State employees came together through our union, Colorado WINS, to win improvements at work that let us do our jobs even better, and provide robust public services to Coloradans in every corner of our state.

Last year we negotiated our historic, first contract agreement with the State of Colorado winning provisions for improved wages, scheduling, and paid time off – including a new holiday for state employees, Juneteenth.

The Black Caucus introducing our bill to honor Juneteenth as a state holiday is a great example of how when we work together at the state house and in our workplaces, we can win big for working people. We need an official state holiday on Juneteenth to celebrate Black people’s freedom and resistance, and center Black people’s unique contribution to justice in our society. We know that when we all can celebrate our history, Black, white and brown, we are making the way for a Colorado that works for all of us.

We are honored to see legislators, like those from the Black Caucus, see this work across the finish line. We know that when working people and elected officials work together, we can win big for everyday Coloradans.

Read the coverage from our press conference with Gov. Polis, the Democratic Black Caucus of Colorado, and Norman Harris, the President of Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver.

Rocky Mountain PBS
Colorado lawmakers highlight new bill that would make Juneteenth a state holiday
https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/juneteenth-state-holiday-colorado-new-bill/

Live coverage from Fox 31:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwQScV3NS4Q

9 News:
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/local-politics/colorado-juneteenth-state-holiday-bill/73-91ba6a9c-5d8c-455e-a27b-afcda4608244

CPR:
https://www.cpr.org/2022/03/03/colorado-lawmakers-introduce-bill-declaring-juneteenth-a-state-holiday/

Live Coverage from 9 News:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yXx8-IpJHk

CBS 4 Denver:
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2022/03/02/juneteenth-state-holiday-colorado/

Colorado Politics
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/gov-jared-polis-backs-bill-to-make-juneteenth-a-state-holiday/article_cad8d9f2-9a61-11ec-aa3f-3fe64bf36c07.html