A coalition working to put a referendum on the ballot to undo the Legislature’s bill to strip public unions of collective bargaining rights says it has already collected nearly 130,000 signatures — and just received backing from the state’s largest association of police officers.
“We respect the legislative process. … We believe in the checks and balances of that process and preserving the rights of our citizens,” Utah Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Murray told reporters from the south steps of the Capitol Friday. “( HB267 ) has stripped the voice of our heroes to advocate for their needs. Without a voice, we are unable to advocate for safe working conditions, competitive wage and benefits to attract qualified candidates to protect our communities.”
The Fraternal Order of Police and Professional Firefighters of Utah joined with an existing coalition of labor groups — including the Utah Education Association — in the push to secure the approximately 141,000 signatures necessary to qualify the referendum for the ballot…