Boulder County Workers Speak Out on Job Security, Immigration Protections at Public Hearing

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Boulder County Employees Union Communications Workers of America

April 6, 2026

Boulder, Colo. – On April 2nd, 2026, Boulder County employees took to the podium at the Public Open Comment period for the Boulder County Commissioners’ public hearing. Workers shared testimony about stalled contract negotiations, growing workplace uncertainty, and the county’s refusal to engage on key protections. The public comments came the same day negotiations were scheduled to continue, underscoring the urgency workers felt after years of organizing and eleven months of bargaining with little progress on core issues. “We brought county management concrete protections that can support employees when/if detained by ICE, that help them keep their job securely, and the county red-lined every single line, refusing to negotiate,” said Elisabeth RB, employee of the Parks & Open Space division. “The commissioners have publicly declared their belief that ICE should not be in our communities, but when we offered a concrete way to protect workers, they refused. We deserve better, we deserve to be supported.”

More than 120 postcards were submitted into the public record during the hearing, reflecting concerns raised by workers across departments. Their testimonies highlighted ongoing challenges, including wages that make it difficult to live in the community they serve, lack of healthcare access for seasonal employees, and the absence of basic workplace protections.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in our workplace right now, with looming budget cuts that we aren’t being consulted on, and we’re worried about our livelihoods and the impact to the services we are proud to provide to our community,” Melany Niemann, employee of Public Health, said. “The essential protections we’re proposing help us all navigate what are challenging times for all government agencies.”

While negotiations are ongoing, workers remain committed to advocating for a contract that ensures safety, stability, and respect for all county employees. County workers expressed a desire to return in three months to thank the commissioners for doing the right thing, but emphasized negotiations need to include the protections they seek in order to build the equitable and inclusive community the commissioners say they desire.

For More Information:

Alejandra Beatty, 720-690-4605, [email protected]

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