Bargaining and organizing are powerful tools for building workplace power and creating equitable, thriving schools. Since Colorado’s first bargaining agreement was secured in 1967, educators have come together to advocate for fair treatment, equitable pay, and workplace protections that strengthen their profession and support student success. This work extends far beyond contracts—it’s about ensuring educators have a voice in shaping the policies that impact their classrooms, schools, and communities.
Today, educators across Colorado are organizing and bargaining to secure the rights and protections needed to sustain their profession and improve public education. Through collective action, we are not only addressing today’s challenges but also paving the way for a stronger, more equitable future. At its core, this work is about building schools where educators and students can thrive together.
Collective Bargaining: Building Workplace Power
Collective bargaining empowers educators to build a stronger foundation for our profession. The first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in the state was secured in 1967 by the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, marking a pivotal moment that set the stage for educators across Colorado. This historic agreement underscored the essential role of educators’ voices in shaping fair policies and set a powerful precedent for building workplace power. Since then, educators across Colorado have continued to organize, advocating for fair treatment, equitable pay, and workplace protections that strengthen their roles and, ultimately, support students’ success.
Today, CEA members aren’t waiting for legislative action to expand collective bargaining rights—they’re actively organizing in districts across the state, pushing to secure these essential protections. While 88% of Colorado educators believe they should have a legally protected right to bargain collectively, many still face significant obstacles at the local level in securing and retaining these agreements. Yet, we persist, knowing that when educators come together, we gain a powerful, unified voice to fight for the workplace conditions, fair pay, benefits, and student support we deserve. Through collective bargaining, we ensure educators’ voices are heard at the table, advocating not just for educators, but for the future of public education.
For many, collective bargaining is non-negotiable; over 60% of educators report they would only work in districts with a CBA. More than a set of protections, it is crucial for retaining highquality educators and fostering supportive learning environments. From the first CBA with Denver Classroom Teachers Association to today, collective bargaining has been a cornerstone of workplace power—essential for the sustainability of our profession and advancement of public education in Colorado.
New Collective Bargaining Wins
Cherry Creek Bus Assistants
Cherry Creek Paraeducators
Clear Creek Educators
Fremont ESPs
Jeffco PreK
Lake County PreK and Paraeducators
Roaring Fork Educators
Leadership Development
CEA is building a grassroots movement of educators and community allies to win on the issues we care about.
We believe that educators are natural leaders, so we organize to identify these leaders and plug them into our union work by providing support, training, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with a national network of educator activist leaders on the front lines of the movement. We help leaders lead.
Organizing for our students, our profession, and our community.
Our focus on organizing is grounded in the pursuit of social justice, empowering educators to create equitable, inclusive schools where every student has the opportunity to succeed. We mobilize members to take collective action, addressing systemic inequities in education and advocating for policies that center fairness and opportunity. From securing fair contracts that prioritize educator respect and student resources to training members in grassroots advocacy, our organizing efforts ensure that educators are leading the fight for justice in their schools and communities. This work is about more than improving working conditions; it’s about dismantling barriers and creating schools where everyone—educators and students alike—can thrive.
Our organizing efforts extend beyond contracts and classrooms, uniting educators with parents, students, and community leaders to advocate for broader societal change. By building coalitions and amplifying voices often left unheard, we tackle issues like funding disparities, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the need for diverse and culturally responsive curricula. These campaigns embody the belief that public education is the foundation of a just society and that collective action can create transformative change. Through our focus on organizing, we are not only strengthening schools but also building a movement for justice, equity, and opportunity across Colorado.
