Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining)

SB 249 establishes a Labor Relations Board to oversee collective bargaining for public employees in Utah. The bill creates a board with five members (the Labor Commission commissioner plus four governor-appointed members representing employers and employees) and sets rules for representation elections, mandatory bargaining between public employers and unions, and dispute resolution through mediation or arbitration. It prohibits police officers from striking and requires unions to represent all employees without discrimination. The bill also outlines procedures for investigating unfair labor practices and administering collective bargaining agreements, affecting all state and local government employees covered by the new rules.