UPEA
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I join UPEA?
- Protect your rights as a public employee
- Get representation through the grievance process
- Lobby for compensation and benefits
- Gain access to exclusive promotions and discounts
- Ensure your voice is heard
How do I join?
Nominees must be an employee of any city, county, or state government agency in Utah and have served as a public employee for at least six months. If you have any questions, please contact us.
What is a grievance?
A grievance is a claim by an employee that he or she has been adversely affected by the misinterpretation or misapplication of a written policy. Employees can file grievances for:
Disciplinary actions
Written reprimand
Suspension
Demotion
Termination
Non-disciplinary actions
Performance evaluation
Hostile work environment
Work-related issues
You can file a grievance by contacting your employee relations representative. Grievances have timelines and it’s important that you contact UPEA as soon as possible.
Which successes has UPEA achieved?
Repeal of House Bill (HB) 267: UPEA and other members of Protect Utah Workers negotiated with legislative leaders to gain their support for a repeal of HB 267 during a Dec. 9, 2025, legislative special session. Lawmakers listened to the thousands of public employees who successfully gathered more than 300,000 signatures in support of a referendum to repeal the bill, which would have inhibited collective bargaining by UPEA and other associations representing public workers. Compensation. UPEA prioritizes fair cost-of-living and pay-for-performance adjustments to the state budget every year to enable public agencies recruit and retain quality employees.
Health Insurance. UPEA lobbies for government to maintain funding levels for health insurance premiums each year.
Retirement. UPEA supports parity between retirement systems.
Education. UPEA keeps members informed about key issues, legislation, policy, and rule changes.
Job Protections. UPEA provides support and legal representation for grievance filings.
In 2025, UPEA secured the following:
2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for state employees
1% increase in pay for performance funding to reward and retain top-performing employees.
In December 2025, UPEA and other members of the Protect Utah Workers coalition worked with legislative leaders to gain their support for the repeal of House Bill (HB) 267, protecting the collective bargaining rights of public employees. UPEA will continue to engage in constructive conversations with lawmakers who have committed to support public employees, protect public funds, and strengthen the services that make Utah run.
Read the full timeline and current status in our 2025 Legislative Communicator.
How can I become more involved as a member?
Join a standing committee. UPEA committees provide direct input and recommendations from the general membership to the Board of Directors.
Committees include:
Articles, Bylaws, and Resolutions
Human Resource and Grievance Representation
Legislative, Insurance & Retirement
TEAM (Target, Education, Activism, Membership) and Public Relations
Training
Join a standing committee. UPEA committees provide direct input and recommendations from the general membership to the Board of Directors.
Committees include:
Articles, Bylaws, and Resolutions
Human Resource and Grievance Representation
Legislative, Insurance and Retirement
TEAM (Target, Education, Activism, Membership) and Public Relations
Training
Learn more and sign up here.
Serve in district leadership. Each district has a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer. Learn more and apply by sending an email to admin@upea.net
Become a legislative ambassador. UPEA ambassadors are members who work with the UPEA Legislative, Insurance, and Retirement Committee and contact their legislators about public employee issues. Ambassadors are asked to share their background and advocate for public employee issues. Ambassadors are provided with information and training on how to effectively contact and communicate with their legislators. Learn more and sign up here.
