Union members in Utah have collected 130,000 signatures so far in their push to run a citizen referendum to overturn the ban on public employee collective bargaining imposed by the state legislature. They need roughly 141,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot and force a public vote on the law. Organizers are feeling optimistic and have received support from big unions representing first responders. The Fraternal Order of Police and the Professional Firefighters of Utah have announced their support for the referendum.
The law, House Bill 267, was passed early in the 2025 Utah State Legislature and bans public employee labor unions from engaging in collective bargaining. Supporters argue that the bill protects taxpayer dollars from being used for union interests. Organizers must hit thresholds in 15 of Utah’s 29 state senate districts by an April 16 deadline to qualify for the ballot. They are planning more events to gather signatures through their website, ProtectUtahWorkers.com, while facing opposition from campaigns like “Decline to Sign” by Americans For Prosperity-Utah and Utah Parents United.
If the referendum qualifies, it would go on the November 2026 ballot. The outcome will determine the future of public employee collective bargaining in Utah. The efforts of union members and their supporters highlight the importance of this issue for workers’ rights, benefits, and working conditions in the state. Governor Spencer Cox signed the controversial bill into law, but the referendum now offers a chance for the public to have a say in overturning it.
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