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You have rights at work. We help you use them.

Whether you're facing discipline, workplace safety issues, or questions about your contract rights, Colorado WINS provides representation and support to protect your interests.

What we can help with

If you are a state employee and would like to dispute something that's happening in your workplace, you have options. In some cases, you can seek resolution through the State Personnel Board’s discretionary review process. If there's a possible violation of our Partnership Agreement, you can look into filing a Partnership Agreement Dispute (PAD). Read Article 9.1 on page 19 of our contract to help determine which option is best for you, and reach out to us with any questions.

Partnership Agreement Disputes (PADs)

PADs are specifically for disputing an action that violates our Partnership Agreement. The PAD process must be initiated within 20 business days of an incident occurring. Any employee covered by the Partnership Agreement is eligible to file a PAD if they believe the Partnership Agreement has been violated.
Level I and II PAD Forms

Grievances

Grievances are for matters that aren't covered by our Partnership Agreement, and are subject to the State Personnel Board Rules. Grievances must be initiated within 10 calendar days of an incident occurring. Any State Classified Employee is eligible to file a Grievance, regardless of their coverage status under the Partnership Agreement.
State Personnel board Grievance Procedure

How representation works

Colorado WINS provides representation to individual employees according to the union’s Representation & Arbitration Policy. COWINS representatives for meetings with supervisors, human resources, appointing authorities, investigators can be expected to follow these general provisions. Please start with filling out our Request Representation Form.

  • Provide fair and knowledgeable advocacy for employees in pre-disciplinary meetings (called R6-10s), Step 2 Grievance meetings, or Partnership Agreement Disputes (PADs) in Levels I and II.
  • Attend as a witness to allowable investigatory meetings.
  • Counsel employees on provisions of the Partnership Agreement and State Personnel Board (SPB) Rules.
  • Suggest the proper venues available in the state to solve issues, such as C-SEAP, EEO offices, resources for ADA claims, or EEOC.

  • Be involved in worker's comp insurance claims.
  • Be involved in performance evaluations or general supervisory meetings about performance.
  • Represent in State Personnel Board Hearings (those require attorneys as representatives).
  • Solve personality conflicts.
  • Attend separation meetings for probationary employees: employees who have been employed for less than one year.
  • Be involved in any venue that is not subject to the State Personnel Board Rules or Partnership Agreement.

  • There is a flat monthly fee for representation in Grievances pertaining to the State Personnel Board Rules. All fees for representation are waived for members in good standing at the time of the incident. The fee is $400 per month.
  • Non-members will be invoiced each month for any fees incurred. Non-payment may be cause for termination of representation.
  • The first month’s fee for non-members is due at the start of the representation.
  • Fees for new members will be waived starting the month subsequent to their first dues deduction.

NOTE: The $400 fee does not cover additional costs related to representation at State Personnel Board Hearings, which are distinct from other grievance meetings related to the State Personnel Board rules.

  • Represented client must respond to the representative’s communications in a timely manner. Five days without phone response or three messages without response is cause for termination of representation.
  • COWINS staff and volunteer stewards make a good faith effort to fully and respectfully represent clients under the terms of this agreement and the Representation & Arbitration Policy. COWINS staff and volunteer stewards are not expected to subject themselves to verbal abuse, harassment, or threats from clients. Violations of this expectation or of the COWINS Code of Conduct is cause for termination of representation.
  • A terminated client may appeal their termination for cause under item 1 or 2 of these terms to the COWINS President.

  • Respond to your representative's communications within five days
  • Treat union staff and volunteer stewards with respect
  • Follow the COWINS Code of Conduct

Resources and forms

Request Representation Form

Get form

PAD Level I and II Forms

Get forms

Representation and Arbitration Policy

View policy

PAD Fact Sheet and Timeline Filing Guidelines

View sheet

Grievance Filing Timeline

View timeline

State Personnel Board Rules

See Rules

Ready to request representation?

All requests for representation are handled confidentially. Contacting us about workplace issues cannot be used against you.
Rayna, Colorado WINS member
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We fight to make state employees' lives better—at work and at home—by winning better wages, benefits, and working conditions.