Pueblo County sheriff appeals Colorado ruling he committed unfair labor practice

Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero is appealing a finding by the state labor department that he and the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office engaged in an unfair labor practice . However, Lucero will continue to negotiate with members of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 837.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Labor issued an order July 8 that required Lucero to negotiate with the union after the union filed an unfair labor practice complaint. The ruling confirmed the unfair labor practice claim filed by the IBPO in April, which alleged that Lucero violated a new state law that allows some employees in Colorado counties to unionize.

While Lucero is exercising his right to appeal the order within 35 days, the next collective bargaining meeting between the sheriff’s office and the union is still set to take place Aug. 16.

"Having reviewed the initial order, the arguments made by the parties, and current Colorado law, Lucero believes it is necessary to preserve his administrative and statutory rights by appealing the order. Consequently, on August 9, the sheriff filed an appeal," according to an Aug. 13 press release from the sheriff's office.

In appealing the division’s order, Lucero said he wants to preserve the legal rights of the PCSO and to get a final administrative decision. The sheriff has argued that the new law conflicts with his authority as sheriff under Colorado law.

In the state ruling, the labor body found that the legislation , called the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act, includes county sheriff's employees as county employees, giving them the right to join unions and bargain with their employer over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.

The appeal does not change the sheriff’s decision to respect and comply with the order to begin the bargaining process, according to Tuesday's press release.

“We look forward to further engagement and conversations with IBPO while the administrative process works toward a conclusion. It goes without saying I value the sheriff’s office employees and the good work they do for the citizens of Pueblo County on a daily basis," Lucero said.

"I also appreciate the community’s support and am confident that this process will enhance the agency’s ability to serve the community even more efficiently,” Lucero said in the release.

More on labor union negotiations: Colorado labor office rules Pueblo sheriff violated law by refusing to negotiate with union

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X , formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps . Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com .

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo County sheriff appeals Colorado ruling he committed unfair labor practice