Bill on public labor unions passes Utah House

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would change the way public labor unions can operate in the state was passed by the Utah House of Representatives on Monday.

Sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, HB267, "Public Sector Labor Union Amendments," was debated on the House floor on Monday, before being passed by a vote of 42-32.

The bill, which would limit public sector collective bargaining and stop union representatives from doing union work while on the public time clock, was heard in a Business, Labor and Commerce committee hearing last week. Several overflow rooms were full of people who wanted to testify on the bill.

The bill also spurred spirited debate among lawmakers on the House floor Monday.

This week, another bill regarding public employees was introduced in the Senate, SB168 "Public Employee Negotiation Amendments." This bill also addresses collective bargaining in the public sector.

Discussion around the bill

Those in opposition to the bill say it prevents workers from advocating for themselves and prevents unions from advocating for employees. In response to this argument, Rep. Kay J. Christofferson, R-Lehi, spoke in support of the bill during the floor debate, saying unions still have "the ability to represent employees, they can still conduct business."

Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, also spoke in support of the bill: "I think this bill is actually about consistency and fairness, and when we're using taxpayer dollars, it's important that we are being consistent and fair."

There were also those during the floor debate who spoke against the bill. "I believe this legislation is anti-worker, it's anti-family and it's anti-Utah values," Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, said. "I just can't understand why we as a legislature need to marshal our considerable might to intentionally create a culture of fear and silence in workplaces for the people that we have the privilege to represent."

Members of public unions from across the state came to watch the floor debate for the bill. "The sponsor seems to think that you can please every single public employee, that they all are going to be pleased with something. That's just not the case. He can't please all of his constituents. So if a union exists, they have 50% of the bargaining unit plus one, so they have a majority, and they're representing a collective voice," said Shykell Ledford from the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

State Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, said he has had more people reach out to him about this bill than anything else so far this session. He added that almost everything he has heard from constituents has been in opposition to the bill.

What would the bill do?

The bill would prohibit public sector collective bargaining. Teuscher explained that collective bargaining is when an employer and a union come together to negotiate a contract for employees.

"In most of those collective bargaining agreements, it spells out specifically that the union representation is the sole collective bargaining agent, meaning that the public employer is not able to negotiate with anyone else, other than union representatives," said Teuscher.

According to Teuscher, the bill would safeguard public resources by prohibiting employees from receiving paid leave for union activities. It also requires unions to pay to use spaces that other groups have to pay for and to report annually to the labor commission the number of members they have and the money they spend.

The bill also provides professional liability insurance that teachers would be able to opt into.

"What it doesn't do is it doesn't affect the relationship between any employer or employee in the state that wants to identify with a union, join a union, pay union dues, participate in a union, do union activity," Teuscher said.

The Utah Education Association lodged its opposition to the bill in a statement released Monday. "The Utah Education Association (UEA) is deeply disappointed by the Utah House of Representatives' decision to pass HB 267: Public Sector Labor Union Amendments despite overwhelming public opposition," the statement said.

The UEA, the state's largest teachers' union, said its members had sent thousands of emails to lawmakers, and that they have gathered 13,000 signatures on a petition against the bill.

Utah House Democrats also released a statement Monday saying the bill passed "despite bipartisan opposition and widespread criticism from constituents."

"This legislation directly contradicts Utah's commitment to supporting our education professionals, public safety officers, and public service employees," it added.

The bill heads next to the Senate.

If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1.

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