Nearly 130K sign proposal to protect collective bargaining, but ‘it’s not enough’
An effort to maintain collective bargaining rights across Utah has collected nearly 130,000 signatures at its halfway point, but that’s nowhere near enough, leaders of the Protect Utah Workers coalition said Friday, March 28.
“We still have a lot of work to do to meet the Legislature’s complex requirements and guidelines,” said Jessica Bruner, director of the Utah Public Employees Association.
“We must maintain this momentum for two more weeks and gather as many signatures as possible before mid-April,” Bruner said at a news conference on the steps of the state Capitol in Salt Lake City.
To qualify for the ballot, the referendum requires signatures from 8% of the state’s active voters, including at least 8% in 15 of Utah’s 29 state Senate districts, all within just 30 days. It’s one of the most difficult referendum processes in the country.
“Let’s give our heroes their voice back,” said Kevin Murray, president of the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police.
The coalition of 19 labor unions, now including the Utah State Fraternal Order of Police and the Professional Firefighters of Utah, announced their official support Friday. Both organizations are the largest labor groups in their respective fields.
“Legislators took away our collective bargaining rights, and we want them back,” said Jack Tidrow, president of the Professional Firefighters of Utah. “The ballot referendum is the procedure to do it.”
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HB 267: Public Sector Labor Union Amendments (sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher and Sen. Kirk Cullimore) was rapidly passed and signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox early in the 2025 legislative session, despite significant public opposition. The law prohibits employers from collectively bargaining with public labor unions.
“House Bill 267 has stripped the voice of our heroes to advocate for their needs,” Murray said. “Without a voice, we are unable to advocate for safe working conditions, competitive wages and benefits to attract qualified candidates to protect our communities. If associations are not able to voice their concerns on members’ behalf, who will look past the budgets and see the needs of officers? Without officer representation, we will move backward in history instead of forward.”
At the news conference, Salt Lake City firefighter Harrison Long emphasized the importance of collective bargaining for public safety.
“Through collective bargaining, a team of four firefighters responds to fires, medical emergencies, or rescues in Salt Lake City,” Long said. “Unfortunately, many departments without unions often run engines with only two or three personnel, making their jobs much harder and responses less effective. Collective bargaining isn’t just about wages or benefits; it’s about safety, working conditions and delivering the best possible service to the public.”
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it seems like people understand that firefighters deserve a voice in firefighting. Police officers deserve a voice in law enforcement. Teachers deserve a voice in education. Everyone behind me deserves a voice in their profession. And that’s all we’re asking for,” Long said, with dozens of union members standing behind him.
Volunteer to Gather Signatures
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The Protect Utah Workers coalition, fueled by thousands of grassroots volunteers, urges voters statewide to continue supporting signature-gathering efforts through April 14 to ensure the referendum qualifies for the ballot. If successful, voters will decide the future of HB 267 on the November 2026 ballot, unless the governor calls a special election.
Protect Utah Worker Coalition
AFSCME Local 1004
AFT Utah
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 382
American Federation of Government Employees
Communications Workers of America Local 7765
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 354
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 3
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Operating Engineers Local 3
Professional Firefighters of Utah
Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Association
Sheet Metal Workers Local 312
Teamsters Local 222
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99
United Mine Workers
United Mountain Workers
Utah Education Association
Utah Public Employees Association
Utah School Employees Association
Utah State Fraternal Order of Police
