Defending our Public Employees

Jordan Teuscher is no friend to working families. During the 2024 general legislative session, Jordan introduced HB285 “Labor Union Amendments”, which failed primarily due to very present, overwhelming opposition by both public and private sector employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the highest unionization rates are among workers in education, training, and libraries (32.7%) and law enforcement (31.9%) — all public sector occupations. This is who Jordan was attacking with his bill, and we’re predicting that if he retains his seat, he’s going to come back in 2025 to continue his assault on public employees and working families.

Who are the people that would be negatively impacted? In this bill, Public employees represent municipality, county, state and school district employees, or any administrative subunit of the state. He’s targeting teachers, school administrators, state employees, city employees, police and firefighters. He’s going after the people who operate our cities and make things run. He’s going after the teachers and administrators who provide sound public education to our children. He’s going after emergency responders and the people who answer the calls for help.

Is Jordan representing Utahns with these bills? The answer is no. His bill language comes from Michigan’s Mackinac Center for Public Policy and its deceptively named “Workers for Opportunity” that are engaging with conservative legislators to introduce legislation to weaken labor laws and tear down worker rights. He’s running bills written from outside of Utah. Unions are one of the most important tools to address the disparity of wealth distribution, and a legitimate tool to manage the welfare and way of life for Utahns. Union members will tell you that human dignity and worth, fair pay, retirement, benefits, safety, training, employer accountability, and opportunity are what are at stake. And Jordan is no friend to unions, or to working families.

“What is government for, if not to better the lives of its citizens?”

Tom Davidson, LiUNA Local 295

Your representative needs to represent you. You are the voter. You are the constituent. If your voice isn’t represented in the district, then speak up, get involved, and act with your vote in November. I ask that you stand with working families, and stand with me for better representation.

I look forward to hearing from you.