After more than a year of negotiations, workers at the Jefferson County Public Library in Colorado have ratified their first union contract.
The historic agreement delivers a 7% across-the-board wage increase, new workplace protections, and establishes a strong foundation for the future of JCPL — as well as for library workers across Colorado.
The road to this agreement was not easy. At times, library management dug in, refused to compromise, and stalled progress. This fall, that tension culminated in management walking away from the bargaining table and declaring an impasse after just one round of negotiations on the critical issue of wages.
That didn’t deter JCPL workers. They launched a letter-writing campaign, rallied community support, packed board meetings, and, to underscore their determination, picketed the final board meeting of the year.
Their persistence and solidarity ultimately paid off.
In the new year, management returned to the bargaining table. This time, their wage proposal looked very different. The result was a 7% across-the-board raise, alongside an experience-based pay scale for pages, some of whom had not seen a meaningful raise in years. Together with what they had already won during negotiations, workers secured a strong contract and voted to ratify overwhelmingly.
“For me personally, I’ve only ever made minimum wage,” said Sammi Johnson, a page with nine years at the library. “For the first time, I’m going to be making above minimum wage, and because I’ve been here nine years, I’ll be paid accordingly. Any significant increase in pay improves your life.”
Beyond wages, the contract addresses long-standing concerns about fairness and job security, including bilingual pay, holiday leave and premium holiday pay, and a grievance and progressive discipline procedure that ends at-will employment.
Throughout bargaining, workers remained committed to winning a fair and strong contract — not only for themselves, but because they know it will make the library a better place for the community. That commitment resulted in a contract that staff say reflects both their value and resilience.
“This contract shows what’s possible when workers stay organized and refuse to give up,” said Anna Sparlin, a JCPL librarian. “We stuck together through a long and challenging process, and we won real improvements that make our libraries stronger for staff and for the community.”
The agreement lays a foundation workers can build on in future negotiations. Just as importantly, the victory sends a message beyond one library district. Colorado’s library workers — including those organizing with AFSCME in Boulder — are watching and learning from one another. JCPL workers have shown that sustained organizing and solidarity can deliver real change, even when the path is difficult.
With ratification complete, these workers will now charter as a local with AFSCME Colorado Council 976. Congratulations to JCPL workers on their historic first contract!