Governor Polis Signs Partnership Agreement with Colorado WINS

Agreement Builds upon Polis Administration’s Commitment to Provide High-Quality, Efficient Government Services to Coloradans 

DENVER - Today, Governor Jared Polis and Colorado WINS (COWINS) signed an update to articles of the existing Partnership Agreement between Colorado WINS and the State. The updated agreement boosts the state’s ability to recruit and retain hardworking state employees and ensures Colorado’s state workforce is compensated fairly and can continue to provide efficient and effective services to Coloradans. 

“This agreement will help us fill open state positions, supports our hardworking state employees, and is the latest in a series of actions we are taking to provide even better and more efficient services to the people of Colorado,” said Gov. Polis. “I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this process. This agreement helps the state recruit and retain talented people, filling important state positions including correctional officers. We are proud of our work to improve efficiency and deliver greater value.”

The consensus agreement for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 signed today is an update to the original three-year Partnership Agreement signed last year. The agreement, if funded, ensures employees receive fair compensation for the services they provide Coloradans, along with access to professional development opportunities, modernized payroll systems, and efficient operational support, and expands the state’s ability to efficiently and effectively recruit and retain hardworking employees. 

The agreement includes a request for a five percent across-the-board pay raise for state employees for the next fiscal year to help keep pace with wage growth and inflation, a request for a new minimum wage of $15.75, and a rebuilt pay plan to make the state more competitive with other employers to attract and maintain an outstanding workforce, all of which were included in the Governor’s November 1 budget request. The agreement also outlines the implementation of a step pay system as part of next year’s budget request to help Colorado workers maintain competitive wages over the course of their careers, and is a major step toward making Colorado an employer of choice.  

Gov. Polis thanked Colorado’s hardworking state employees who continue to provide high-quality service to Coloradans day in and day out.

“Every day, state employees work hard to protect the health and safety of our communities and keep Colorado running, but low staffing levels and high turnover rates have been putting these employees – and our communities – at risk,” said Colorado WINS Executive Director Hilary Glasgow. “This new agreement with the state provides critical tools for attracting and retaining employees in essential positions across our state.” 

“As part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we need to ensure that raises in all state agencies are implemented fairly. I look forward to seeing that commitment through with the implementation of step raises that will eliminate biases and improve our ability to attract and retain staff in key positions,” said Colorado WINS President Skip Miller.

This agreement is designed to ensure that the State and employees, through their chosen representative, jointly work to promote cooperative relationships with the shared goal of providing the best possible services to Coloradans.

“Our state employees make our state work effectively and efficiently and are key to our success. Directing resources to address pressing needs and to ensure Coloradans are able to get the services they need is a top priority and I am glad this agreement is moving forward,” said State Representative Shannon Bird of Westminster and member of the Joint Budget Committee. 

“To continue moving forward as a state we must be able to attract new workers and ensure all state workers have a good paying job where they can thrive and enjoy their livelihoods. This agreement is a great step toward ensuring Coloradans receive the services they deserve and state workers have more opportunity,” said State Representative Emily Sirota of Denver and member of the Joint Budget Committee. 

The State and Colorado WINS have negotiated in good faith on the overarching Partnership Agreement that outlines wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment on behalf of all covered employees.

For more information on the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Service Act, please visit the State’s FAQ site and the Colorado WINS website.