Danielson Named Senate Labor Champion by Colorado AFL-CIO
DENVER, CO — Senator Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, was recently named a Senate Labor Champion by the Colorado AFL-CIO for her long standing advocacy of worker’s rights issues at the State Capitol.
“Since I began my legislative career, I have consistently stood up for our workers, passing important policies to strengthen workers’ rights, demand equal pay, combat wage theft and more,” said Danielson. “I’m proud and honored to be recognized by the Colorado AFL-CIO, who I have partnered with on a number of initiatives over the years to support our workforce. Moving forward, I will continue my commitment to empowering Colorado’s workers and working hard at the Capitol to ensure they always have a seat at the table.”
“The Colorado AFL-CIO is an expression of the hopes and aspirations of Colorado’s working families and we are made up of over 130,000 hard-working union members across 185 affiliate unions,” said Dennis Dougherty, the Executive Director of the Colorado AFL-CIO. “We proudly recognized Senator Jesse Danielson as a labor champion in the state Senate. Senator Danielson is a fierce fighter for workers and has delivered on legislation that has positively affected the lives of millions of Coloradans, including equal pay, the Agricultural Workers’ Bill of Rights, and the formation of a State Apprenticeship Council.”
Throughout her legislative career, Danielson has consistently championed legislation to support and empower Colorado’s workforce. This session, she sponsored SB22-161, which modernizes Colorado’s wage enforcement procedures and ensures workers are able to recover their legally earned pay. The new law empowers the Attorney General and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to collaborate and combat cases of wage theft to make sure workers receive the wages they are rightfully owed, and that violators are held accountable.
In 2021, Danielson championed the groundbreaking Agricultural Workers’ Bill of Rights, which modernizes the ag industry, promotes equity, and establishes fair treatment standards by extending basic labor rights to agricultural workers. SB21-087 guarantees break times, meal times, safe and comfortable working conditions, safe housing, overtime pay, clean water, and health protections for Colorado’s agricultural workers.
Danielson also led the effort in the Senate to pass the historic Equal Pay for Equal Work Act in 2019 to reduce the wage gap, level the playing field for women in the workplace, enhance equity, and bolster the state’s workforce. SB19-085 strengthens the state's pay equity requirements, prohibits employers from seeking salary history from job applicants, and requires employers to post all employment advancement opportunities ll and list salary ranges on all postings.
Visit Senator Danielson’s legislative profile on the Colorado General Assembly website to learn more about the legislation she has sponsored to support Colorado workers.