In February, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, signed a bill into law that bans public labor unions from collective bargaining.
A labor union is an organized group of workers who advocate for a number of improvements to be made in the workplace; including higher wages, benefits and improved working conditions. Oftentimes, these unions are made of people who are all in the same line of work.
Collective bargaining is the union’s right to negotiate contracts with their employers. H.B. 267 will strip these rights from Utah’s public labor unions.
However, Utah labor unions weren’t going to sit on the sidelines while these rights were about to be taken away from them.
Michelle Ayala, a political science major at Salt Lake Community College, shared her experienced canvassing in support of the petition with Landslide Political. She canvassed on the University of Utah campus during her time with Landslide Political.
“It’s been difficult for me to land an internship or anything to do with any kind of activism. I’ve always tried to be very active. When I saw they were looking for canvassers, I realized that this was something I could take part in,” Ayala said.
Labor leaders and their unions had 30 days to collect signatures and support from Utahns all over in order to get a referendum to H.B. 267 on the 2026 ballot.
“I was able to collect a fair amount of signatures,” Ayala said, “I met a lot of students and even teachers that were very willing to listen to me.”
Another canvasser for Landslide Political, Daeton McClure, senior studying physics at the U, also shared his experience trying to gain signatures for the cause. McClure mainly canvassed on campus, but he also was in Sugarhouse park and even in Davis County. He was one of the canvassers at the Bernie Sanders rally this past Sunday at the Huntsman Center.
“I heard about H.B. 267 through social media and it upset me. I think worker rights are super important to me and others,” McClure said.
April 15 was the last day for them to get signatures. They are required to have 8% of registered voters from the state. This is about 140,748 signatures from individuals. It is also required that the petitioners get 8% signatures from 15 of Utah’s Senate districts. These signatures need to have the signers correct information in order to be considered valid.
McClure was able to collect about 80-100 signatures towards the beginning of the petitioning period. It was a perk to be canvassing on the U’s campus because he felt as if the people he spoke to were more willing to sign and listen.
“I believe that collective bargaining, which is what the bill specifically targets, is super important for workers being able to get better working conditions and improved pay,” McClure said.
“In taking away worker’s benefits, you are taking aways their voice,” Ayala said.
On Wednesday, the petitioners submitted 320,000 signatures. That figure is double the amount needed to repeal the bill. The campaign to restore Utah’s labor unions right to collective bargaining has proved to be the largest signature-gathering in the state’s history.
“I’m thrilled to see so many people support public worker rights and I hope that we see the same enthusiasm next November when they get a chance to vote on it,” McClure said.
The next steps are for all the signatures collected to be approved as valid. The opposing petitioners will have 45 days to reach out to voters and ask them to name their support as void.
