County employees - rights - obligations

(1) County employees have the right to: (a) Self-organize; (b) Form, join, or assist an employee organization; (c) Engage in the collective bargaining process and the formation of a collective bargaining agreement through representatives of their own choosing; (d) Engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; and (e) Refrain from any or all concerted activities without interference, constraint, or coercion by a county or an employee organization. (2) County employees have the right to communicate with one another and with employee organization representatives concerning organization, representation, workplace issues, collective bargaining, and the business and programs of an employee organization at county employee work sites and by means of email systems, text messages, or other electronic communications; telephone; paper documents; and other means of communication subject to reasonable restrictions. Upon certification of an exclusive representative, the restrictions must be determined through collective bargaining. (3) County employees have the right to have their exclusive representative be present at: (a) Any formal discussion between one or more representatives of the county and one or more county employees in the bargaining unit or their representatives concerning a grievance, a personnel policy or practice, or any other general condition of employment; or (b) Any examination of a county employee in the bargaining unit by a representative of the county in connection with an investigation if: (I) The county employee reasonably believes that the examination may result in disciplinary action against the county employee; and (II) The county employee requests representation. (4) The discussions described in subsection (3)(a) of this section do not include informal discussions or ordinary coaching conversations between county employees and their managers or supervisors. (5) A county shall annually inform its county employees in a bargaining unit who are represented by an exclusive representative of their rights under subsection (3)(b) of this section. (6) County employees have the right to fully participate in the political process. County employees, during nonworking hours, may speak with members of the public and the county on any matter of public concern, including the terms and conditions of their employment, and may engage in other political activities in the same manner as other residents of Colorado, without discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation.