We received a transcript of a meeting at Dixie State University. (Transcript PDF) In this meeting, Doajo Hicks, General Counsel & Chief Diversity Officer of the university, stated, "So, what you have to understand is that tenure gives you, otherwise in the State of Utah, everyone knows this, in the State of Utah every employee is at will. You cannot unionize, because it's against the law." Obviously, Mr. Hicks doesn't know or understand national labor law or employee rights in Utah. (Which is surprising considering he is the General Counsel for DSU)
1) It is not illegal to unionize in Utah or in the United States. Every employee has the right to organize a union.
2) Not every employee in the "State of Utah" is at will. There are several thousand public employees across Utah that have contracts and unions negotiate on their behalf.
It has long been recognized that Utah Board of Regent's policy prohibits collective bargaining rights in public higher education institutions. That does not prohibit higher education faculty and staff from joining and forming unions.
Such bullying and intimidation, such as this example, unfortunately has become common in the workplace. This is why employees have formed unions and organized. We are seeing employees get fed up with such treatment as is the case in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Colorado, and now Arizona. Thousands of employees in public education organizing, protesting, and fighting back! The greatest defense we have against unfair labor practices, intimidation at the workplace, and attacks against working families is to organize! Together in solidarity, we collectively have a voice. It's time for higher education faculty and staff to organize and come together. AFT Utah stands ready. Join the cause... join the union. #AFTEmpoweringU
