1-minute voter guide: Denver's Referred Question 2U and 2V

Why it matters: 2U would give up to 8,300 more city employees the right to negotiate labor contracts with the city.

• Meanwhile, Referred Question 2V specifically refers to how fire departments can respond to disagreements in their collective bargaining process.

How it works: 2U would let city employees negotiate pay, benefits, working conditions, and allow them to strike as part of a union.

• If approved, the measure would go into effect in January 2026.

Context: Only Denver police, firefighters and sheriffs currently have collective bargaining rights.

• 2V — supported by the Denver firefighter's union — specifically requires binding arbitration during bargaining conflicts instead of a fact-finding process that's currently required, per Colorado Newsline.

Between the lines: Mayor Mike Johnston supports both measures, while the liberal Working Families Party also encourages a yes vote.

The other side: Joshua Sharf, a senior fiscal policy fellow at the libertarian think tank Independence Institute, encourages a no vote on both policies.

Go deeper: Proposal giving most Denver employees collective bargaining rights moves forward