Solidarity Forever (But Especially Right Now)
HB267, the Referendum, and How You Can Help Save Labor Rights in Utah
Let’s say you woke up one day and found out the Legislature passed a law that stripped rights from teachers, firefighters, and cops, all in one go. No interest in the hundreds of Utahns who spoke out against it. No negotiations (well, no good-faith negotiations that they didn’t go back on). Just a fast-track bill signed by the governor in February and set to go into effect this spring.
Now let’s say thousands of Utahns saw that and went, “Absolutely not.”
That’s the story of HB267, a law so wildly unpopular it’s sparked one of the largest referendum efforts in state history. In just two weeks, volunteers across Utah gathered over 130,000 signatures to try to stop it from going into effect. Firefighters, teachers, and even the Fraternal Order of Police have joined forces to say: this ain’t it.
And now with just days left until the April 14th deadline, the people’s veto is within striking distance.
This is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about this fight: from what HB267 actually does, to how referendums work in Utah, where things stand now, and who voted for this mess. For a deeper dive into Utah’s union (and union-busting) history, check out one of our older substacks here: The Next Generation of Pioneers
Because this isn’t just about one bad law. It’s about who gets to have a voice in Utah and who the supermajority is trying to silence.
Forward this to your friends. Seriously. If you don’t send it to at least 10 people, your crops will fail, your ex will text you, and your barista will get your name wrong forever. We don’t make the rules. It’s back to the early 2000s email chain times.
Let’s get into it.
HB267: The Law That Picked a Fight With Everyone
HB267 eliminates collective bargaining for public sector unions in Utah. It bars government employers—like school districts, city departments, fire stations, and police agencies—from recognizing unions as bargaining agents or entering into collective bargaining agreements. In short, it takes away the ability of public employees to negotiate as a group for things like safety gear, staffing levels, or fair wages.
It doesn’t ban unions outright. Teachers, firefighters, and cops can still be in one. But under HB267, those unions can’t actually negotiate anything. It’s like being handed a megaphone with no batteries or showing up to a potluck and being told you can only watch everyone else eat.
But I Heard There Were Compromises?
There were. And then there weren’t.
In the lead-up to the 2025 session, there were active negotiations between lawmakers and union leaders. At one point, legislators floated a compromise version of the bill that would have allowed collective bargaining but required routine recertification votes every five years.
It looked like a deal might be forming—at least eight unions, including the AFL-CIO, initially pledged neutrality, pending some agreed-upon amendments. But when lawmakers added a poison pill to the recertification provision (counting non-votes as “no” votes), support cratered. Translation: if your members didn’t check the box because they were on vacation, in the hospital, or, I don’t know, busy fighting actual fires, it would be counted against you. Classic.
Union leaders went back to their members, and the feedback was loud and clear: oppose the bill.
Lawmakers responded by scrapping the compromise and reverting back to the original, most extreme version: a full ban on collective bargaining. That’s the one that passed.
So What Was the Process Like?
In a word: loud.
Unlike other controversial bills that quietly sneak through the Utah Legislature, HB267 drew massive attention. Thousands of public comments flooded in. Overflow rooms filled up during committee hearings. Teachers, firefighters, nurses, construction workers, and other union members from across the state showed up to protest. There were signs, chants, even songs. Democracy was very much happening.
And lawmakers passed it anyway.
One union leader called it “a betrayal.” Another described the bill as “retaliatory” and if you follow the backstory, it’s easy to see why. Because this wasn’t just a policy move, it was political payback, plain and simple.
The Timeline That Made Everyone Suspicious
If you’ve been watching Utah politics over the last couple of years and thinking, “Is this all just…personal?” you’re not wrong. Let’s rewind.
1. The Voucher Lawsuit (2023)
Before Amendment A, there was the school voucher fight. In 2023, the Legislature passed a sweeping school voucher bill (it took them a whole 10 days), the Utah Fits All Scholarship that would siphon public dollars into private education. The Utah Education Association (UEA) sued, arguing the program violated constitutional protections for public education funding.
That lawsuit struck a nerve. Lawmakers saw it as a direct challenge to their authority and it kicked off a years-long revenge tour against the teachers’ union.
2. Amendment A (2024)
Back in 2024, lawmakers had a dream: to break open Utah’s constitutional earmark that guarantees income tax revenue for public education and some social services. Enter Amendment A, a proposed constitutional amendment that would strip that earmark and let them dump that money into the general fund (aka a much bigger, much less protected piggy bank).
When the legislature passed that amendment, the Utah Education Association sued (again). UEA’s lawsuit argued that the Legislature failed to follow basic constitutional procedures like, say, publishing the proposed amendment in newspapers statewide, which is legally required. A judge agreed. And just like that, Amendment A was voided. Gone before it ever got counted.
It was a win for public education. But it also made the Legislature mad mad. Like, “You’ll regret this” mad.
And instead of asking themselves, “Why are we so bad at passing constitutional amendments? Should we, maybe, stop attempting to gut public education funding?” lawmakers decided the real villain here was... the teachers. More importantly, the teachers' union that sued them. Twice.
3. SB37: A New (Vetoed) Attempt at the Same Old Trick (2025)
Not ones to let a Supreme Court smackdown stop them, lawmakers came back in 2025 with SB37, a bill that tried to do the exact same thing Amendment A had aimed to do, only sneakier.
This time, they didn’t ask voters for permission. SB37 would have quietly rerouted $700 million in local property tax revenue away from public schools and into the state’s general fund, leaving school districts to cross their fingers that lawmakers would send the money back.
Even the State Auditor called it a constitutional red flag. The Utah State Board of Education called it “money laundering.” And shockingly, Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed it, citing the risk of misleading taxpayers and weakening education funding protections.
But lawmakers weren’t done being mad. They weren’t just frustrated that they lost, they were furious that someone stood up to them. And instead of going after the lawsuit or the system, they decided to go after the people who dared to use it.
4. HB267: The Legislative Tantrum (2025)
In the first days of the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers introduced HB267 dropped like an anvil on public employees. The bill strips public sector unions (like UEA, hmmm…) including teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement, of their collective bargaining rights, prohibiting government employers from recognizing unions as bargaining agents.
And if there were any doubt about whether this was retaliation, Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan), the bill’s sponsor, made sure to clear it up in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, of all places. He accused unions of “stabbing lawmakers in the back,” framed HB267 as a cautionary tale for other states, and basically confirmed what everyone already suspected: this wasn’t policy, it was payback.
The UEA responded by calling his piece “disheartening” and full of misrepresentations. Labor leaders who had tried to work on a compromise version of the bill said they were blindsided and betrayed.
And the final version that passed wasn’t some well-crafted middle ground. It was a full-on gutting of union rights, pushed through in the face of thousands of public comments, protests, and packed hearing rooms. The Legislature saw the public opposition and passed it anyway.
Because HB267 isn’t about fixing a broken system. It’s about punishing people who know how to use the system.
The People’s Veto: How Utah’s Referendum Process Actually Works
So, how do you fight back against a law as extreme (and wildly unpopular) as HB267?
Welcome to Utah’s referendum process: our one and only tool for saying, “No thanks!” to a bad law after the Legislature has already passed it. But don’t get too excited. The process is designed to be about as fun as assembling IKEA furniture in the dark while being chased by a raccoon. Blindfolded. While on rollerskates.
What Is a Referendum?
A referendum is when citizens collect enough signatures to pause a law from going into effect and put it on the ballot for voters to decide. A referendum can only be run if a law passes with less than two-thirds support in each body (the House and Senate). Luckily, we had some quietly brave Republicans who voted against the bill so, here we are in the referendum process. Now if the Protect Utah Workers coalition gets enough verified signatures by April 14, HB267 will be frozen and appear on the November 2026 ballot for citizens to vote on.
That means you (yes, you!) could have the chance to vote to overturn the bill. But only if we clear some truly outrageous hurdles first.
Lawmakers have made this process extremely difficult. In fact, it’s widely considered the most difficult in the country.
To qualify, referendum organizers must:
Collect over 141,000 valid signatures from active registered voters
Hit that 8% threshold in at least 15 of Utah’s 29 Senate districts
Do it all in 40 days
Collect every signature on paper, in person, using county-specific packets
Submit everything to county clerks for verification of every. single. signature.
And if you’re asking yourself why this is so hard? Because the supermajority really doesn’t want voters second-guessing their worst decisions. (Like, say, passing a wildly unpopular union-busting bill that firefighters, teachers, cops, and city workers all hate.)
Is It Still Possible? YES. (But It’s Gonna Take All of Us)
Referenda in Utah are rare. Successful ones? Even rarer. But not impossible.
The 2020 tax referendum proved that when Utahns come together across the state, we can beat the odds. And we’ve got a secret weapon: public support.
As one signature gatherer put it, “Everyone is signing. I’ve had maybe two people say no to me.”
The public is with us. And the momentum is growing.
First Responders Join the Fight
Until recently, the signature drive was largely powered by public education workers. But in a major boost, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Professional Firefighters of Utah joined the campaign last week.
That’s big. Not just because of their organizing capacity but because it shows how far-reaching HB267’s damage really is.
“Without a voice, we are unable to advocate for safe working conditions or competitive wages and benefits,” said Kevin Murray, president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“We tried to not let it get to this point,” added firefighter union president Jack Tidrow. “But this is where we’re at.”
Their involvement sends a powerful message: this isn’t just a teachers’ issue, it’s about protecting the rights of all public workers.
The Opposition: “Decline to Sign”
Of course, the other side isn’t sitting quietly. Conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity-Utah and Utah Parents United have launched the “Decline to Sign” campaign, complete with radio ads, billboards, and—let’s be honest—some creative storytelling about what HB267 actually does.
Their main argument is that collective bargaining is “political,” “unnecessary,” and “hurts taxpayers.” And that somehow supporting teachers means that we aren’t supporting kids?? They’re banking on confusion, fatigue, and the complexity of the referendum process to stall this thing out.
Let’s not let them.
Where Things Stand Now: 130,000 Signatures and Counting
So how’s it going, you ask? In a word: momentum.
As of March 28, the Protect Utah Workers coalition has already gathered around 130,000 signatures statewide. That’s an incredible feat especially considering the tight deadline and Utah’s signature-gathering obstacle course. But here’s the key thing to remember:
130,000 is not enough. Not even close.
Wait… Why Isn’t That Enough?
Because not all signatures will be valid. Voters might:
Sign with the wrong address (not where they are currently registered to vote)
Abbreviate something as simple as “Salt Lake City” to SLC
Have handwriting that looks like it was done mid-earthquake
Or write “Mickey Mouse” instead of their legal name (we get it, it’s been a long session)
To make sure they hit the magic number of 141,000 valid signatures, to be sure they meet all of the other qualifications listed above, and just in case the opposition is successful in their sneaky campaign to get signers to remove their names, organizers are aiming for closer to 250,000. It’s a classic Utah move: pack your snacks and your backup snacks, because you don’t want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere without options.
As Jessica Bruner of the Utah Public Employees Association put it:
“Although we have nearly 130,000 signatures and overwhelming support, we must keep this momentum going.”
What You Can Do (Like, Right Now)
So now you know: HB267 is a power grab disguised as policy, the referendum process is a bureaucratic obstacle course, and public workers across the state are in a full-blown fight for their rights.
But here’s the good news: you can actually do something about it. Yes, you, person reading this on your phone while eating cold leftovers or procrastinating on your taxes. This part is for you.
1. Find a Petition and Sign It (Correctly!)
This is the single most impactful thing you can do right now. You must:
Be a registered Utah voter
Fill out the form clearly and legibly
Not sure where to go? Visit ProtectUtahWorkers.com to find petition-signing locations near you. They’ve got a tracker, events, volunteer info, all the goodies.
2. Bring Your Friends, Coworkers, Exes, Weird Uncles, etc.
Seriously. Bring people. Utahns from across the political spectrum are signing this thing. It’s not a partisan issue—it’s a people-being-able-to-advocate-for-themselves-at-work issue. Which… shouldn’t be controversial.
3. Volunteer to Gather Signatures
You don’t need to be a political operative. You just need to care. Sign up here to get trained and pick up a petition packet. Even if you just collect 10 signatures, that’s 10 closer to the finish line.
4. Post on Social Media
Yes, we’re asking you to become that person. Just for two weeks. Use your Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn (if you’re into that sort of thing), or just a group chat with your family that’s 90% your Wordle results (do people still do that?)
Say something like:
“Utah lawmakers passed a bill banning collective bargaining that targets teachers, firefighters, police, and other public workers. We can repeal it, but only if enough people sign the referendum. Go to protectutahworkers.com and sign before April 14!”
5. Tell the Legislature You’re Watching
Lawmakers passed this bill with thousands of Utahns begging them not to. Let them know you haven’t forgotten. Email your legislators. Call them. Show up. They hate that.
Find your reps here: le.utah.gov
6. Get Ready to Vote in 2026
If the referendum qualifies, HB267 will go on the November 2026 ballot. This fight doesn’t end with signatures, it ends at the polls. Make sure you’re registered. Make sure your friends are registered. And remember what they tried to do here.
Don’t Let Them Count on You Giving Up
The people who passed HB267 are betting on burnout.
They’re hoping we’ll get tired, distracted, discouraged.
They’re counting on us to tune out.
Let’s prove them wrong.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about one law. It’s about the kind of Utah we want to live in:
Where workers have rights,
Public servants are respected,
And the people still have a voice when lawmakers go too far.
Let’s finish this.
And as a little treat, who supported stripping rights from teachers and firefighters when it came time to vote? Well, we believe in putting people on blast.
In the House, HB267 passed 42 - 32
Voted for the bill (the bad guys)
Abbott, N. (R)
Auxier, T. (R)
Ballard, M.G.(R)
Bolinder, B. (R)
Brooks, W. (R)
Burton, J. (R)
Chevrier, K. (R)
Chew, S. (R)
Christofferson, K. (R)
Defay, A. (R)
Elison, J. (R)
Fiefia, D. (R)
Gricius, S. (R)
Hall, K. (R)
Ivory, K. (R)
Jack, C. (R)
Koford, J. (R) (AS A FLAG, SHE WON BY A NARROW 300 votes)
Kyle, J. (R)
Lee, T. (R)
Lisonbee, K. (R)
MacPherson, M. (R)
Maloy, A. Cory (R)
Moss, J. (R)
Okerlund, C. (R) (A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT AND A SELF-PROCLAIMED “MODERATE”)
Peck, N. (R)
Petersen, M. (R)
Peterson, V. (R)
Pierucci, C. (R)
Roberts, C. (R)
Sawyer, J. (R)
Schultz, M. (R)
Shallenberger, D. (R)
Shelley, T. (R)
Shepherd, L. (R)
Shipp, R.P. (R)
Snider, C. (R)
Strong, M.A. (R)
Teuscher, J. (R)
Thompson, J. (R)
Walter, N. (R)
Whyte, S. (R)
Wilcox, R. (R)
Voted against the bill (the good guys)
Acton, C.K. (R)
Barlow, S. (R)
Bennion, G. (D)
Clancy, T. (R)
Cutler, P. (R)
Dailey-Provost, J. (D)
Dominguez, R. (D)
Dunnigan, J. (R)
Eliason, S. (R)
Fitisemanu, J. (D)
Gwynn, M. (R)
Hawkins, J. (R)
Hayes, S. (D)
Hollins, S. (D)
Kohler, M. (R)
Loubet, A. (R)
Matthews, A. (D)
Mauga, V. (D)
Miller, G. (D)
Miller, T. (R)
Monson, L. (R)
Moss, C. (D)
Nguyen, H. (D)
Owens, D. (D)
Peterson, K. (R)
Peterson, T. (R)
Romero, A. (D)
Stoddard, A. (D)
Thurston, N. (R)
Ward, R. (R)
Watkins, C. (R)
Welton, D. (R)
In the Senate, it passed 16 - 13.
Voted for the bill (the bad guys)
Adams, J. Stuart
Balderree, H.
Brammer, B.
Cullimore, K. A.
Grover, K.
Ipson, D.
Johnson, J.
McCay, D.
McKell, M.
Musselman, C.R.
Owens, D.R.
Sandall, S.
Stevenson, J.
Stratton, K.
Weiler, T.
Wilson, C.
Voted against it (the good ones)
Blouin, N.
Escamilla, L.
Fillmore, L.
Harper, W.
Hinkins, D.
Kwan, K.
Millner, A.
Pitcher, S.
Plumb, J.
Riebe, K.
Thatcher, D.
Vickers, E.
Winterton, R.
