COMMERCE CITY – Commerce City collective bargaining unit employees voted 60 to 23 on Tuesday in support of being represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).Of the 96 ballots distributed in early January, 83 eligible ballots (or 86 percent) were returned.
“I congratulate those employees who followed the process and have voted to make this change,” said City Manager Jerry Flannery. “I take seriously my responsibility to work closely with representatives from AFSCME to negotiate terms for the mutual benefit of Commerce City residents and employees alike.”
Last fall, the city worked with AFSCME officials to identify 100 positions eligible for participation in the collective bargaining unit. When ballots were distributed on Jan. 3, four of these positions were vacant. Managerial employees are excluded from participation as are employees who help develop policies for labor-management relations and those who are members of the Police Department’s collective bargaining unit.
Collective bargaining unit employees have the right to bargain on matters such as dues collection, insurance contribution levels, uniforms, wages, work hours, education incentives, general leave and fair share contributions, but are prohibited from striking.
