After hundreds of teachers, firefighters and public transportation workers gathered at the Capitol in the first weeks of the legislative session to protest a bill that eliminates collective bargaining for Utah’s public employees, senators gave final passage to the legislation Thursday.
During debate, lawmakers said they had received thousands of emails, calls and texts about “Public Sector Labor Union Amendments,” or HB267 — many in opposition. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, and Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper.
Despite votes against the bill by both Democrats and Republicans, it managed to achieve majority support in both the House and the Senate, 42-32 and 16-13, respectively.
Opponents are now urging Republican Gov. Spencer Cox to veto the bill.
The Utah Education Association and public unions statewide are urging Cox to “show up for teachers [and] listen to public employees” by vetoing the bill.
The UEA held a protest in the Capitol Rotunda Friday afternoon, where around 500 people encouraged Cox to nix the bill.
In order to override such a move, two-thirds of the members in each body would have to vote for the legislation. That means eight more representatives would have to vote “yea,” and four more senators would have to vote “aye.”
Here’s how each lawmaker in both the Senate and the House cast their vote on the bill:
Note to readers • This story has been updated to include details about the Utah Education Association protest on Friday.
