Catherwood LibraryILR School

A controversial bill moving through the Utah legislature is proposing stricter union regulations regarding union certification and union dues. Republican lawmakers who proposed the bill state that it will not harm unions or unionized workers. If passed, the bill would require unions representing public workers to recertify every five years, and it would also require union workers to vote annually regarding the deduction of union dues from their paychecks. Supporters of the bill believe that the measures establish necessary safeguards between public employees and unions, and will also incentivize unions to better meet the needs of unionized members. Opponents of the bill argue that the bill makes it harder for workers to join unions and also makes union organizing efforts more difficult. Individuals opposing the bill have deemed it to be anti-union, and believe that the measures are union-busting strategies.