Educators, union members rally against labor union bill following newly unveiled version

SALT LAKE CITY — The energy and cautious optimism radiating from a crowd of educators and supporters packed onto the south steps of the state Capitol Friday was palpable.

That's because before the Utah Education Association's rally against the controversial HB267, lawmakers introduced a new version of the bill and announced they would take the weekend to review it before debating and voting on it — something originally expected to take place Friday.

"The second substitution for HB267 was made public just this morning and while we are still reviewing the details, one thing is clear: The pressure worked. Lawmakers heard us. They heard you," said Renée Pinkney, president of the Utah Education Association. "And while this fight is not over, it's a testament to what's possible when public workers stand in solidarity."

HB267, which has already passed the House, sought to ban collective bargaining — the process of negotiating a contract with an employer — for public unions in Utah. It has attracted strong opposition from other unions as well, including police and firefighters.

The latest version would water down the bill a bit, allowing for collective bargaining if more than half of employees vote for a union to represent them in that process. The bill would still mandate that taxpayer money cannot be used to promote a union.

"We just want to give everybody an opportunity to review it," Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, said Friday after the substitute version of HB267 was made available. Cullimore, one of the bill sponsors, said lawmakers have heard several unions were not going to oppose the bill because of the changes.

Kelly Yeates, a teacher in the Park City School District, said she sees HB267 as way to not only silence the voices of teachers, but of the whole community.

"Gov. Cox and Utah legislators tabled this bill until Monday because they know it's punitive and unnecessary and they know it hurts Utah families. To the governor and our legislators, they say that they stand up for families and education. Now, we need you to match your actions and your words by protecting and prioritizing public education," Yeates said.

Pinkney thanked "union workers across industry" for standing together in opposition of the bill and some were even present at Friday's rally, despite not working in education themselves.

Frankie Valdez and Terry Hunt with Utah Sheet Metal Workers Local 312 were two of them.

Valdez said the decision to take time out of his Friday and show up in support of the Utah Education Association and other unions was an easy one.

"If something happens with one union, we all have to stand together. If we don't show up for them, who's going to be there when we need help?" Valdez said. "Back in 2020, the sheet metal workers were having a problem that they were fighting for and the other trades came out. It's really important that we, like, stand together and with collective bargaining."

Hunt said that he has kids in the public school system and thinks teachers "especially" should have the power to unionize and advocate for themselves.

"I remember my teachers. You know, they get up early, they come in, they do their job, they work through their lunch and they take their work home with them," said Valdez. "It's a thankless jobs. It's very difficult. People don't understand how difficult it is to be an educator. To make them jump through all these hurdles constantly, like, if we can help them not have to jump through this one as well as everything else and keep them together, it just makes it a little easier. At the end of the day, they always say children are our future, right?"

The Utah Senate had been expected to take a final vote on the revised bill Friday but will now wait until at least Monday. If the Senate ends up passing the revised bill, it would have to go back to the House for a final vote before heading to the governor's desk.

While the Utah Education Association and other unions were pleased to see a substitution to the bill resulting in more discussion around it, Pinkney said the job isn't over.

"As UEA takes time to analyze the changes to HB267 over the weekend, we remain committed to protecting public education and ensuring that our voices are never ignored. Let this moment be a reminder. This is what power looks like. This is what solidarity can do and this is why we will keep showing up," Pinkney said.

"When we stand together — educators, union workers and our communities — we win. Not just today, not just tomorrow but next session and every time we demand better for our students, our profession and our future."

Contributing: Daniel Woodruff

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