Utah lawmakers abandoned efforts to compromise on a bill restoring a sweeping prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees
Utah lawmakers in a bill draft Wednesday restored a proposed ban on collective bargaining rights for public employees, backtracking after days of negotiations with public sector unions who were hoping to reach a compromise with legislators.
Lawmakers in an earlier revision had removed an outright ban on collective bargaining, though the updated bill draft at that time still would have required public sector unions to undergo a “recertification election” every five years.
But after failing to reach a “consensus” on the “neutrality” of the revised bill draft with union representatives, lawmakers in their latest proposal this week reverted to the original intent of HB267— prohibiting collective bargaining altogether across all government-owned organizations, including public schools, law enforcement and fire departments.
Specifically, it would bar public employers from “recognizing a labor organization as a bargaining agent” and from entering into collective bargaining contracts.
Related: Wisconsin Act 10
