By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
Controversial HB267 – a bill that prohibits public employers from engaging in collective bargaining with unions – is officially being challenged through a referendum effort. The Protect Utah Workers Coalition, a new collaborative of over 15 labor unions, is preparing to launch the statewide effort on March 15.
Sponsored by Rep. Jordan Tuescher and Sen. Kirk Cullimore, HB267 has widely been viewed as retaliation against the Utah Education Association for suing to keep Amendment A off the ballot in 2024. However, this bill does not just target the UEA; it impacts firefighters, police officers and nurses.
“This legislation is a direct attack on Utah’s working families,” said American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1004 President Jerry Philpott. “Politicians are counting on us to back down. We’re here to show them that we’re just getting started.”
While the bill was passing through the legislature, it was met with daily protests at the Capitol. The bill was initially amended to allow for collective bargaining through unions if 50% of employees in the sector voted to certify the union every five years. This provision was stripped in the bill’s final version at the last minute before passing the state Senate and being signed into law.
The bill did not pass with a veto-proof ⅔ majority, allowing the Unions to launch a referendum effort.
Utah’s referendum process is one of the hardest in the country. Sponsors must obtain signatures equal to 8% of the number of active voters statewide and in 15 of the 29 Senate Districts. That amount sits at 141,000 signatures, while petitioners are only allowed 40 calendar days after the end of the legislative session at which the law passed or 30 calendar days after the day on which the first individual signs the referendum packet. For this specific initiative, signatures must be submitted by April 16.
Iron County Rep. Walt Brooks spoke to the St. George News* regarding the effort, saying, “If they go out and get them and people really feel like it’s important, then we’re going to see that come out. But personally, I don’t think it’s going to be the case. I think the majority of Utahns are happy with our right-to-work state, and they don’t see that solution looking for a problem to solve.”
“Many people in rural areas work in the labor job market. Therefore, if they do not have an entity that can protect them from mistreatment and worse discrimination, it is a worry,” said Courtnee Justice, an educator in the Emery County School District.
“If you love your neighborhood school or your child’s teacher, please let them know,” said San Juan School District Curriculum Specialist Jeff Winget,” If you want public education to be successful, volunteer to help, contact your legislators to let them know you want good education policy not retaliation, and be positive instead of joining in the negativity. Our rural communities need our teachers.
According to the Protect Utah Workers Coalition, the referendum has 1,500 volunteers to collect signatures. “The coalition is confident in the public support behind this referendum,” reads a release from the organization.
The referendum effort will officially kick off on Saturday, March 15.
*This quote is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aims to inform readers across the state.