Sponsor says changes coming to public labor union bill in Utah Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill banning collective bargaining for public unions in Utah advanced again on Capitol Hill.

But one of the sponsors said changes to the controversial proposal are coming.

HB267 would ban collective bargaining – the process of negotiating a contract with an employer – for public sector unions in Utah. Despite strong union opposition, the bill has moved forward. It cleared a vote in the Senate Thursday morning, 18-10, after a lengthy and often-tense debate.

“Nothing about this bill does away with labor unions,” said Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy. “Nothing about this bill disallows labor unions from providing all the services that they currently provide and will continue to provide to all their employees, but for collective bargaining.”

Firefighters watched in the Senate gallery as the bill was debated. HB267 would impact them along with police officers, teachers, and other public workers. Besides banning collective bargaining, the bill also mandates that taxpayer money cannot be used to promote a union.

But Cullimore, one of the sponsors, said a change is coming that would still allow collective bargaining – if more than half of employees vote for a union to represent them in that process.

Still, some lawmakers blasted how quickly the bill is moving through the Capitol.

“We have all the time in the world to get this right,” said Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, adding that voters feel unheard on this issue. “That keeps me up at night … because we didn’t use to be this way.”

HB267 still needs to clear one more vote in the Senate, which could happen Friday. However, if the bill does change, it would have to go back to the House of Representatives for a final vote before heading to the governor’s desk.

Senate Democrats were united in voting against HB267. Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said their opposition would likely remain even if the bill changes.

“We still have concerns on the policy itself and what it means to have any limitations on collective bargaining and the opportunity to come together and unionize,” Escamilla said.

The Senate’s top Republican leader seemed to question whether changing the bill was necessary.

“I think the actual bill could pass the way it is,” said Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton.