Colorado Votes for Paid Leave!

WE DID IT!

Huge congratulations to the Colorado coalition Yes on 118: Colorado Families First, led by FV@W’s anchor Colorado 9to5 and their partners, for their steadfast commitment to this fight, and their leadership. This is a win not just for the families of Colorado, but for the paid leave movement as a whole, helping pave the way for an inclusive, effective federal program.

Voters in Colorado have spoken and they’ve overwhelmingly chosen to enact a permanent family medical leave insurance program. As Ashley Panelli, Colorado 9to5 Paid Leave Campaign Manager and a leader in the coalition, put it: “Colorado has made history as the tenth state–including D.C.–in the country to pass paid family and medical leave and the first to pass it through a ballot measure. This win shows the immense public support for safety net programs like paid family and medical leave. Colorado voters have made their voices heard. And their decision will give 2.6 million workers across the state access to this crucial benefit. I couldn’t be more proud of our state for putting Colorado families first by ensuring all workers have time to care for themselves and their loved ones without worrying about losing a paycheck. I’m optimistic that we have set a precedent for local and national advocates across the country to follow, and that one day soon we will guarantee paid leave for all.”

The Colorado paid leave program will be a key component in guaranteeing equal access to economic opportunity, especially for disenfranchised communities. The coalition designed this policy to honor all families, and to value every working person’s contribution to the state’s prosperity.

Our network has been working for 17 years to win policies like this that genuinely value families. Our goal is to enable everyone to be with their loved ones in times of family need and still earn an income—–no exceptions, no matter where we work, the color of our skin or who we love.

Join us as we celebrate this win. It is a testament to what our movement can accomplish, and an encouraging step forward in our fight to secure paid leave for all. Colorado’s victory will help open the door to a new economy that values essential workers and invests in an infrastructure of caring, equity, and respect. Thank you for joining us in this critical work.