Coalition of public employees will try to overturn controversial union bill through referendum
A coalition of teachers, police officers, nurses and other public employees will attempt to overturn a controversial bill signed by the governor last month that will ban Utah’s public labor unions from collective bargaining.
On Wednesday, the coalition — called Protect Utah Workers — announced its intent to file an application for a referendum that seeks to overturn HB267, which Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed on Feb. 14. The bill takes effect July 1.
Sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, and Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, HB267 bans public unions — which represent teachers, police officers, firefighters, municipal workers and other public employees — from collective bargaining, the process where unions meet with employers to negotiate terms of employment.
The sponsors say the bill was meant to protect taxpayer dollars while giving all public employees a voice, not just union members. Labor advocates were staunchly opposed, worried it takes away public employees’ ability to negotiate and could lead to unsafe working conditions and stagnant wages.
https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/03/05/teachers-attempt-referendum-utah-union-bill/