Opponents of ‘union bill’ face Tuesday deadline to gather 140K signatures

SALT LAKE CITY– Opponents of what’s known as Utah’s new “union bill” have until Tuesday to submit more than 140,000 signatures needed to place a referendum on the November ballot.

House Bill 267 outlaws collective bargaining for Utah’s public sector employees, including teachers, police and firefighters. The bill faced significant public opposition, but was still signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox.

The Protect Utah Workers coalition has since been working to gather the 141,000 signatures required to give voters a chance to overturn the new law.

If they do have enough signatures and submit them to state leaders in time, voters in November will decide whether the new law stays or is overturned.

The coalition announced in late March that they had already obtained nearly 130,000 signatures.

KSL.com reported the group was looking to double that amount ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

For a referendum to qualify for Utah’s ballots, 8% of active voters in the state — including 8% of voters in 15 of the state’s 29 Senate districts — must support the effort.

Related: 

• Gov. Cox signs union bill into law, despite protests
• No compromise: Utah Senate gives final approval to original version of labor union bill
• Unions react to Utah bill signed into law, preventing collective bargaining for public employees
• Thousands gather for ‘Hands Off’ protest at the Utah Capitol

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