Utah labor unions gather over 320K signatures to fight collective bargaining ban
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The Protect Utah Workers coalition announced their goal of reaching 320,00 signatures to overturn a bill that bans public sector unions from collective bargaining. Photo: Kim Bojórquez/Axios
A coalition of labor unions on Wednesday submitted over 320,000 signatures to challenge a controversial bill that bans collective bargaining for public sector employees.
State of play: Protect Utah Workers, which represents teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees, turned in referendum petition packets to county clerks on Wednesday, meeting a tight 30-day deadline in an attempt to force the issue in front of voters in 2026.
What's next: The lieutenant governor's office must verify by June 21 whether the thresholds have been met.
- To appear on the ballot next year, sponsors must have gathered roughly 141,000 verified signatures, representing 8% of voters in the state, including in at least 15 of the 29 Senate districts.
Yes, but: Though the signature count significantly surpasses the requirement, many can be disqualified if the signer is not registered to vote or their information does not match voter registration records.
By the numbers: Campaign organizers did not specify the number of Senate districts where they had met the threshold during a news conference at the Salt Lake County Government Center.
- Last week, the group told Axios they had already achieved their goal in six Senate districts.
How it works: Once a petition signature is verified, a county clerk will post the signer's name and voter identification number on the lieutenant governor's website.
- The information will remain online for 45 days, during which signers can request removal.
- Opposition groups, like the Americans for Prosperity Utah, are running campaigns to get backers to remove their signatures, arguing the bill "stops misuse of taxpayer funds" and "ensures all public workers have a voice."
Between the lines: An April 5 rally at the Capitol Building and another at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, headlined by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, attracted thousands of Utahns and boosted signature-gathering efforts, CWA Local 7765 president and nurse Jessica Stauffer told reporters.
What they're saying: "We are on track to becoming not only the most successful citizen-led referendum in Utah history, but one of the most successful in our nation's history," said sixth grade teacher John Arthur.
- Gov. Spencer Cox, who was at an unrelated event at the government center, declined to comment on the referendum effort.
Catch up quick: Cox signed the measure in February, but expressed disappointment that state lawmakers and labor unions had not reached a better compromise.
What we're watching: Utah has one of the nation's toughest referendum processes.
- If the effort fails, it could raise further questions about citizens' power to repeal unpopular legislation in the state.
- For comparison, sponsors in California have 90 days after a bill's enactment to gather signatures equal to a minimum of 5% of the votes cast in the previous gubernatorial race voters to put up a law for referendum.
- In Idaho, sponsors have 60 days to collect signatures from at least 6% of registered voters from the last general election, including in 18 of the state's 35 legislative districts.