AFT Utah and the AFT on the Repeal of Utah’s Public Sector Collective Bargaining Ban

SALT LAKE CITY-AFT Utah President Brad Asay and AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the state legislature repealed a law, HB 267, that banned public employee unions from collective bargaining:

"Tonight's repeal is a historic step in the right direction to return respect and dignity to the workers of Utah. Over 5,000 union activists worked hard to collect more than 300,000 signatures to return a voice at work for teachers and other public employees. Because of that effort, we now have a Legislature that has reversed itself and a pathway for collective bargaining in the future.

"AFT Utah and the AFT are celebrating tonight and are committed to charging forward until every worker has the voice they deserve."

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The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.