2020 BALC Municipal Candidate Questionnaire

Dear Candidate:

The Boulder Area Labor Council represents over 20,000 union members and their families in 114 affiliates ranging from building and construction, communications workers, janitors, health care workers, airline attendants, state employees, postal workers, firefighters, and teachers, to name a few.

The Boulder Area Labor Council is dedicated to organizing working people in the our Area and the State of Colorado; to securing, protecting, and promoting dignity and equality, rights and benefits; and to raising the standard of living and quality of life for all working people and their families. We represent union members and their families in Boulder, Broomfield, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit and Lake Counties.

Running for office is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you can have in your lifetime.

There is always room for hard-working candidates who fight for equality, raising wages and improving the lives of working people. Thank you for your service to Colorado and your City.

As part of our multi-step endorsement process for the Boulder Area Labor Council, you must complete the following questionnaire. These questionnaires will be posted on our website and available to the public. This is not a "closed book exam," if you have questions or need explaination of terms feel free to contact Geof Cahoon, President of the BALC at (303) 601-1679.

Candidate interviews will be scheduled for Saturday, Octoiber 3. All candidates submitting forms will be invited to join a Zoom meeting with our COPE Committee. Final endorsements will be announced October 8. Once endorsed, you are free to use the BALC logo in print and web materials.

Once you have started the questionnaire, do not hit the 'back' button or navigate away from this page until you have submitted the form.

Candidate Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

Mailing Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Current Cash on-hand

If Campaign is receiving public funding, please state that

Name of Campaign Contact

First NameLast Name

Campaign Contact Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

Are you now, or have you ever been, a union member? If yes,when, where and what union were you affiliated with?

What would be your priorities as an elected official? What policies or coalitions do you see yourself leading?

Of the policies and coalitions that you have prioritized, where do you see Labor being a key stakeholder and how do you plan to engage us on these issues?

City employees, who provide critical public services, lack the rights that most take for granted: the right to form a union and negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions with their employer. They do not automatically have the right to collectively bargain. How would you address this issue?

In your first term, would you work with BALC to sponsor a policy granting collective bargaining rights to city employees?

Privatization of public services can reduce city expenditures, but often result in poorer quality services and lower wages for service employees. Under what circumstances would you advocate against the privatization of public services? If so, what tangible steps would you take to prevent this from happening?

We believe that all people deserve the following basic civil rights. Please check all that you support:

The right to freely organize a union

The right to collectively bargain

The right to wages and benefits that improve the living standards of families

The right to full equality on the job

The right to a safe workplace and decent working conditions

The right to speak and be heard, without punishment

The right to a pension and a healthy retirement

The right to strike when necessary

Would you support the Use of Best Value metrics, as opposed to lowest responsible bidder for vendors supplying the City with goods or services?

Would you support creation of a Local Minimum Wage by CityCouncil?

Would you support licensing requirements for marijuana and hemp retail and grows that encourages high labor standards and favorable treatment of union shops?

Would you support a state-wide employee paid family leave policy?

Your city has an affordable housing crisis. What steps would take to address this problem?

Why do you believe it is in the best interests of the BALC and its members to endorse your candidacy?

I have finished the Questionnaire, and I am ready to submit my final copy:

You will receive an automated email response once your submission has been received. For your records, the response will contain a copy of the completed questionnaire. In case of a process error, we recommend saving your responses in a word document before submitting.

If you do not receive an automated response, the questionnaire was not received.

2020 BALC Municipal Candidate Questionnaire

City Workers

Workers Rights