Despite outcries from local workers and labor rights groups, Fort Collins City Council voted against raising the local minimum wage at its May 16 hearing. Minimum wage workers would have seen an increase in wages between two and five percent per year. The vote was 4-3 in favor of keeping the statewide minimum wage, which is $13.65 per hour, leaving many who showed up to voice their desire for a higher wage very disappointed.
This issue was initially brought up in November and was postponed until May. Mayor Pro Tem Emily Francis believed they had not heard enough from those who would be affected by this directly, the minimum wage workers, and felt that the Fort Collins City Council had only heard from business owners.
“I think the business community is more aware of what’s happening and I think it would be good for the city to concentrate more on those low-income residents who would fall under this minimum wage and the benefit to them,” said Mayor Francis, in response to the lack of minimum wage voices, as quoted in Colorado Public Radio.
In response to the low turnout six months prior, Fort Collins workers, union leaders, and other concerned members of the community showed up in large numbers to support the passing of this bill. To their disappointment, Fort Collins will continue to use the statewide minimum wage.
The decision was met with frustration as voiced by several community leaders. Kevin Caffrey, President of the Northern Colorado Labor Council, said in a news release, “Council’s failure here underlines the importance of the deep work we are doing to elevate worker voices in Northern Colorado.”
Greg Zoda, Co-Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America Fort Collins, said in the news release, “There’s a simple question that workers asked council on Tuesday night: ‘Which side are you on?’ and the council majority chose bosses over workers.” He continued, “This disappointing vote is evidence that it’s meaningless for politicians to identify as ‘progressive’ if they are not backed by a democratic, working-class movement. DSA Fort Collins is building that movement.”
Some opponents of the wage increase argued that it would adversely affect small businesses.
Community member Emily Gallichotte, who has been leading this effort since 2021, was disheartened, saying in the news release, “I am disappointed that so many members of council relied on anecdotal scare tactics from businesses and ignored the wealth of data they’ve been presented with, which refutes all of those concerns.”
Organizers have vowed not to give up the fight until they get what they feel they deserve.
