In Utah, a contentious struggle has emerged as public labor union groups unite to challenge a recently enacted legislation limiting their rights. The bill in question, known as H.B. 267 "Public Sector Labor Union Amendments," narrowly cleared the Utah Senate on Feb. 6 and was signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox on Feb. 14, amid significant public outcry and legislative debate, according to ABC4. This decisive move has sparked a campaign by unions to file a referendum to repeal the law that bans collective bargaining for public employees.
However, facing a momentary hurdle, the coalition of unions saw their initial attempt to file the referendum rebuffed due to differing interpretations of state law. "Pull our hat down tight and strap our boots on," said Mike Evans, the president of the Utah School Employees Association, as reported by FOX13. After being told by the state elections office that a referendum could be filed within five days of the legislature adjourning, the unions have prepared to resubmit it. In a spirited effort to gather the necessary signatures, they have launched a website at protectutahworkers.com, bringing together groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, the Teamsters Local 222, the Utah School Employees Association, and the Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Association.
The pathway to repealing an unpopular law through a referendum is not uncharted in Utah's history. A 2020 movement united citizens of all political stripes, garnering support from a major grocery store chain, to successfully repeal a tax reform measure that would have hiked up the sales tax on food. Additionally, in 2007, the Utah Education Association and its allies invested millions in a referendum campaign that led to the overturning of a school voucher program, with a decisive 62% of voters opposing the vouchers. As documented by The Salt Lake Tribune, these historical precedents set a foundation for the present unions' efforts to revoke HB267.
