Representative Christine Watkins provided a legislative update with ETV News following the first week of this year’s legislative session. HB 267 is the hotly debated bill in the public limelight this year. It would “amend provisions governing public employee, public safety, and public fire labor organizations” and “prohibit a public employer from recognizing a labor organization as a bargaining agent for public employees”. Public school teachers have been quick to rally against the bill with major concerns on how this will affect their access to state-funded retirement, among other issues, though its effects would be for all public employees. Representative Watkins shares in her update that HB267 is a very controversial bill. “We will be voting on it Monday,” states Watkins. “This bill wants to destroy unions. We have had this bill before us for the last two years. I am against the bill and will not vote for it, although I am hearing the sponsor of the bill believes it will pass. The bill is aimed at the Utah Education Association, and all other unions will be collateral damage.” HB 267 can be found on le.utah.gov.
