A contentious bill to strip public labor unions of their collective bargaining rights has cleared a major hurdle in the Utah legislature, passing the state’s House of Representatives on Monday despite strong opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans.
House Bill 267, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan), seeks to block public employers, including school districts and government agencies, from negotiating contracts with unions representing public employees, such as teachers and police officers. If enacted, the bill would also restrict the use of public funds to support unions and prevent union members from receiving state retirement benefits.
Teuscher argued that collective bargaining gives undue power to a “single voice” in union negotiations, leaving workers who disagree with the union’s positions or who are not union members without representation. He emphasized, however, that unions could still advocate for their members but would no longer have the authority to negotiate compensation or employee benefits.
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“In many government agencies today, the union’s voice represents a small minority of the overall workforce, meaning that thousands of employees across the state aren’t being heard,” Teuscher said.
Despite passing by a vote of 42-32, the bill saw some Republican members join Democrats in pushing back. Rep. Doug Welton (R-Provo), a public school teacher himself, expressed concern that the bill didn’t fully address the issue it aimed to solve. While he agreed that public funds should not pay for non-public employees’ release time and recognized the importance of professional liability insurance, Welton stated he couldn’t support the bill. He argued that collective bargaining in Utah is voluntary and that the bill may not ensure full representation for all teachers.
“I’m not convinced this will guarantee individual representation for every teacher,” Welton said.
Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D-Salt Lake City) strongly condemned the bill, calling it “anti-worker” and contrary to Utah’s values. She argued that the legislation would foster a “culture of fear and silence” in workplaces by taking away employees’ ability to advocate collectively.
“I can’t understand why we need to use our power as legislators to undermine the ability of workers to organize and advocate for themselves,” Dailey-Provost said.
Following the bill’s passage, the Utah House Democratic Caucus issued a statement, expressing their belief that the legislation contradicts the state’s commitment to supporting public employees, including educators, first responders, and other public service workers. They criticized the bill for weakening workers’ rights and threatening their livelihoods.
“The bill does a disservice to hardworking public employees and their families,” the caucus said in a statement.
The bill’s journey isn’t over yet. It will now head to a Senate committee before requiring a full Senate vote, after which it could be sent to Governor Spencer Cox’s desk.
Union Response: Concern Over Impact on Education and Public Safety
The Utah Education Association (UEA), which represents public school teachers, has voiced strong disapproval of the bill’s progression. The UEA called HB 267 a dangerous step backward, warning that it undermines democracy and the rights of public employees to organize and advocate for better conditions.
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“HB 267 is an attack on educators who dedicate themselves to teaching Utah’s children,” the UEA said in a statement. “It puts the quality of public education at risk by stripping educators of their ability to negotiate for better working conditions.”
The UEA expressed its gratitude to the lawmakers who voted against the bill and noted that its petition opposing the legislation had garnered nearly 13,000 signatures in just one week.
“The UEA will continue to stand firm in defense of public educators and oppose efforts to weaken our schools,” the association concluded.
Meanwhile, the Utah House Democratic Caucus echoed the UEA’s concerns, emphasizing that the bill’s passage undermines the state’s commitment to supporting public service workers, particularly those in education and public safety.
“By eliminating unions’ ability to negotiate for fair compensation, this bill threatens the financial stability of thousands of Utah families,” House Democrats said.
With the bill now heading to the Senate, its fate remains uncertain. However, its passage through the House has already sparked a heated debate on workers’ rights and public employee representation in Utah.
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