Teamsters Locals 17 and 455 commend the Denver City Council for unanimously approving a ballot referendum. This referendum will grant collective bargaining rights to public sector workers in the City of Denver. In November, Denver voters can vote on providing collective bargaining rights for nearly 15,000 of the city’s essential public servants.“This has been a long time coming,” said Ed Bagwell, President of Local 17. “Denver is the largest city in America that does not have collective bargaining rights for public employees, but the tide is now shifting.Dean Modecker, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 455, said, “We look forward to winning in November and securing these public servants strong Teamsters contracts in the years to come.”For public sector workers in Denver to have the right to organize a union, there must be a change to the city’s charter, which the ballot referendum would do. If voters approve in the general election, collective bargaining can begin in January 2026.