No compromise: Utah Senate gives final approval to original version of labor union bill

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate gave final approval Thursday to a controversial bill banning collective bargaining for public sector unions.

The Senate narrowly passed HB267, 16-13, sending the measure to the governor’s desk.

The bill had previously passed the House of Representatives but was on hold while lawmakers sought a compromise with unions.

An updated version of the bill released late last week would have allowed for collective bargaining – the process of negotiating a contract with an employer – if more than half of employees voted for a union to represent them in that.

But Senate GOP leaders seemed much more interested in the original bill, which bans collective bargaining and mandates that taxpayer money cannot be used to promote a union.

Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, said lawmakers were unable to reach consensus with unions on the compromise. After a lengthy and pointed debate Thursday morning, the Senate voted to pass the bill.

Cullimore said the bill would save taxpayer money and give more public workers a voice.

“There are public employees that feel they don’t have the same representation as their colleagues who may be in unions,” Cullimore said.

While most public unions in Utah don’t currently engage in collective bargaining, Cullimore added, HB267 seeks to preempt future problems that come from allowing that in the public sector.

“When you have government employees negotiating with other government employees, and you don’t have market forces underlying those negotiations, you’re negotiating against yourself to the detriment of the taxpayer,” Cullimore said.

But Democrats and some Republicans voted against the bill.

“I have a lot of concerns for the impact that this is going to have on our first responders, our teachers,” said Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City.

“I think this will make hiring more difficult,” Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, told his colleagues, “and many of you are aware of how hard it is to hire in the public sector right now.”

Outside the Senate gallery after the vote, union members criticized the Legislature and said HB267 would have a negative impact on public workers and their families.

“Utah is less safe now,” said Jack Tidrow, president of Professional Firefighters of Utah. He declined to discuss the compromise bill and what led to a breakdown of consensus on it.

Shykell Leford cried after the vote.

“I’m in shock, honestly,” said Ledford, who said she is a member of AFSCME which represents workers primarily in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. “No employer asked for this bill, so I don’t know why it was brought up.” 

Brad Asay, president of the Utah chapter of American Federation of Teachers, accused lawmakers who voted for the bill of not listening and being disingenuous.

“The compromise was never their intent,” Asay said. “This was just a ruse.”

The Utah Education Association and multiple Democrats are now calling on Gov. Spencer Cox to veto the bill.

Asked if Cox plans to sign the bill, a spokesperson said the governor “was following the discussion and will take a closer look at the legislation details now that the bill has passed.”