Utah lawmakers have passed a law restricting collective bargaining rights for public employees, prompting a coalition of unions to start the process to possibly overturn the law at the ballot box.
HB267 blocks government entities from collective bargaining over wages and benefits with public employees. Despite unions urging Gov. Spencer Cox to veto the bill, he signed it last month.
On Wednesday, a coalition of labor unions — including the Utah Education Association, Teamsters, the American Federation of Teachers and others — attempted to file paperwork with the lieutenant governor's office to launch a referendum to put the new law on the ballot. The LG's office rejected the referendum application, saying state law only allows for the filing of a referendum after the Legislature adjourns.
The referendum is possible because the bill failed to secure a two-thirds majority in either the House or Senate.
"Public employees serve our communities every day, but Utah lawmakers have silenced their voices by taking away their right to negotiate for fair wages, safe workplaces, and better working conditions," said Renee Pinkney, President of the Utah Education Association (UEA), in a press release. "This referendum allows Utah voters to right that wrong and ensure workers have a seat at the table."
Organizers say they will begin holding events to collect signatures beginning March 15.
To put the issue to voters, the sponsors must collect signatures from just over 140,000 registered voters, representing approximately 8% of all active voters in the state as of Jan. 1. They also must collect a certain number of signatures from voters in 15 of the state's 29 Senate districts.
The timeframe for signature collection is tight. Organizers have either 40 calendar days from the conclusion of the 2025 legislative session, which ends on Friday, or 30 days from the date that the first person signs a petition, whichever comes first, to turn in those signatures. Anyone who signs the referendum petition is required to read and understand the law that the referendum seeks to overturn.
If backers collect enough valid signatures, the law would be put on hold until its fate is decided by voters during the next statewide election.
As part of the process, the names of every person who signs the referendum petition will be posted online. Signers who change their minds can request to have their names removed from the petition.
In late 2019, lawmakers approved a sweeping tax reform package that included controversial measures such as an increase in sales taxes on food and services. Opponents launched a referendum effort that met the signature requirement to put the issue on the ballot. Lawmakers conceded defeat and repealed the measure at the start of the 2020 session before voters had a chance to weigh in.
