Utah Education Association

Third District Judge Laura Scott's ruling found that the Utah Fits All Scholarship program violated the state’s constitution. But after meeting with the parties, she is allowing it to keep operating pending appeal.

Labor groups have until April 15 to gather enough signatures to put Utah’s collective bargaining ban on the ballot.

“For all these reasons — public trust; accounting and legal challenges; protection of education funding; and the message to our educators — I’m vetoing the bill,” Gov. Spencer Cox wrote to lawmakers.

Representatives from eight unions announced Wednesday they intend to file and collect signatures for a ballot statewide referendum to overturn HB267.

As the end of the session draws near, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams announced a wage increase of $278 million for teachers, support staff and district staff.

Utah’s governor said he was disappointed “the process did not ultimately deliver the compromise” that was on the table. The state’s largest teachers union said lawmakers have “ignored thousands of voices.”

The sound of hundreds of voices yelling “veto” could be heard on every floor of the Utah State Capitol Friday. Just a day before, lawmakers passed a bill to ban public labor union collective bargaining.

GOP leadership ditched a deal that would’ve allowed some collective bargaining because they didn’t get the positive response they wanted from unions and their members. Democrats and the state’s largest teachers union are asking Gov. Spencer Cox to veto the bill.

“Lawmakers heard us, they heard you. And while this fight is not over, it's a testament to what's possible when public workers stand in solidarity,” Utah Education Association President Renée Pinkney said.

Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore promised a substitute bill to allow for collective bargaining under certain circumstances. Senators took an initial vote without seeing the alternative.

Lawmakers said they’ve received hundreds of messages from people opposed to the bill, but it still passed the House on a 42-to-32 vote.

Teachers want more per-pupil funding to better meet the needs of students and educators. Reducing high levels of stress and burnout is another priority.