Utah public unions seek to repeal controversial law banning collective bargaining

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A coalition of public labor union groups is launching an effort to repeal the controversial labor union bill that was signed into law last month.

After debate within the legislature and intense public backlash, H.B. 267 “Public Sector Labor Union Amendments” narrowly passed the Utah Senate on Feb. 6 and was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on Feb. 14.

On Wednesday, March 5, the coalition announced its intention to file official referendum

paperwork with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and launched a “Protect Utah Workers” website. While the group intended to file immediately, the Lt. Governor’s Office denied its application saying it had to wait until the session ends this Friday.

If the coalition’s application is accepted and the group collects the necessary signatures, the labor union bill will be placed before voters as a proposition.

“Our legislators and the governor did not listen to the huge public outcry against H.B. 267, and we believe that we the people should be able to weigh in and have our voice heard by voting on the referendum to repeal H.B. 267,” said Renee Pinkney, president of the Utah Education Association.

H.B. 267 — which bars public labor unions from collectively bargaining with employers — has been at the center of public rallies and internal bipartisan debate this legislative session, with a compromise being proposed and later rescinded in favor of the original provisions.

The suggested compromise would have allowed unions to bargain if a simple majority of the employee class voted in favor of the labor union representing them in the negotiations. However, senators ultimately passed the version of the bill that bans collective bargaining altogether.

The coalition has, at most, 40 days after the end of the legislative session to gather 140,748 signatures statewide. The amount equates to 8% of active registered voters in the state of Utah, and at least 8% of voters in 15 of the 29 senate districts must be represented in that number.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan) said he is not surprised by the repeal effort, but that “getting the referendum on the ballot will be a heavy lift.” Lawmakers prepared for this possibility by passing an additional bill that would dictate when the labor union law would take effect should a referendum be launched.

Pinkney said the coalition has a plan to collect the necessary signatures and will be looking at data throughout the next 40 days.

“We are confident that we will be successful in this effort,” Pinkney said.