diff --git a/salt/utils/iam.py b/salt/utils/iam.py
index 2e7986c69b..789a661d3f 100644
--- a/salt/utils/iam.py
+++ b/salt/utils/iam.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Connection library for Amazon IAM
 
 :depends: requests
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Python libs
 import logging
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ def _retry_get_url(url, num_retries=10, timeout=5):
             pass
 
         log.warning(
-            'Caught exception reading from URL. Retry no. {0}'.format(i)
+            'Caught exception reading from URL. Retry no. %s', i
         )
         log.warning(pprint.pformat(exc))
         time.sleep(2 ** i)
     log.error(
-        'Failed to read from URL for {0} times. Giving up.'.format(num_retries)
+        'Failed to read from URL for %s times. Giving up.', num_retries
     )
     return ''
 
@@ -59,5 +59,5 @@ def _convert_key_to_str(key):
     if isinstance(key, six.text_type):
         # the secret key must be bytes and not unicode to work
         #  properly with hmac.new (see http://bugs.python.org/issue5285)
-        return str(key)
+        return six.text_type(key)
     return key
diff --git a/salt/utils/immutabletypes.py b/salt/utils/immutabletypes.py
index 8d10451563..8166793936 100644
--- a/salt/utils/immutabletypes.py
+++ b/salt/utils/immutabletypes.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
     Immutable types
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import python libs
 import collections
diff --git a/salt/utils/itertools.py b/salt/utils/itertools.py
index 570bbaa83e..817f461c8a 100644
--- a/salt/utils/itertools.py
+++ b/salt/utils/itertools.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Helpful generators and other tools
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import fnmatch
 import re
 
diff --git a/salt/utils/jid.py b/salt/utils/jid.py
index c8dd40902f..1a4a6e6d84 100644
--- a/salt/utils/jid.py
+++ b/salt/utils/jid.py
@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@
 Functions for creating and working with job IDs
 '''
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
-from __future__ import print_function
-
+from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 from calendar import month_abbr as months
 import datetime
 import hashlib
@@ -50,7 +48,7 @@ def jid_to_time(jid):
     '''
     Convert a salt job id into the time when the job was invoked
     '''
-    jid = str(jid)
+    jid = six.text_type(jid)
     if len(jid) != 20 and (len(jid) <= 21 or jid[20] != '_'):
         return ''
     year = jid[:4]
@@ -116,7 +114,7 @@ def jid_dir(jid, job_dir=None, hash_type='sha256'):
     Return the jid_dir for the given job id
     '''
     if not isinstance(jid, six.string_types):
-        jid = str(jid)
+        jid = six.text_type(jid)
     if six.PY3:
         jid = jid.encode('utf-8')
     jhash = getattr(hashlib, hash_type)(jid).hexdigest()
diff --git a/salt/utils/jinja.py b/salt/utils/jinja.py
index 01e98d30ef..0186e8121c 100644
--- a/salt/utils/jinja.py
+++ b/salt/utils/jinja.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Jinja loading utils to enable a more powerful backend for jinja templates
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import collections
 import logging
 import os.path
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ class SaltCacheLoader(BaseLoader):
         # checks for relative '..' paths
         if '..' in template:
             log.warning(
-                'Discarded template path \'{0}\', relative paths are '
-                'prohibited'.format(template)
+                'Discarded template path \'%s\', relative paths are '
+                'prohibited', template
             )
             raise TemplateNotFound(template)
 
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ def uuid_(val):
 
         f4efeff8-c219-578a-bad7-3dc280612ec8
     '''
-    return str(uuid.uuid5(GLOBAL_UUID, str(val)))
+    return six.text_type(uuid.uuid5(GLOBAL_UUID, six.text_type(val)))
 
 
 ### List-related filters
@@ -822,10 +822,10 @@ class SerializerExtension(Extension, object):
                 else:
                     sub = Element(tag)
                 if isinstance(attrs, (str, int, bool, float)):
-                    sub.text = str(attrs)
+                    sub.text = six.text_type(attrs)
                     continue
                 if isinstance(attrs, dict):
-                    sub.attrib = {attr: str(val) for attr, val in attrs.items()
+                    sub.attrib = {attr: six.text_type(val) for attr, val in attrs.items()
                                   if not isinstance(val, (dict, list))}
                 for tag, val in [item for item in normalize_iter(attrs) if
                                  isinstance(item[1], (dict, list))]:
@@ -841,16 +841,16 @@ class SerializerExtension(Extension, object):
 
     def load_yaml(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, TemplateModule):
-            value = str(value)
+            value = six.text_type(value)
         try:
-            return salt.utils.yaml.safe_load(value)
+            return salt.utils.data.decode(salt.utils.yaml.safe_load(value))
         except AttributeError:
             raise TemplateRuntimeError(
                 'Unable to load yaml from {0}'.format(value))
 
     def load_json(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, TemplateModule):
-            value = str(value)
+            value = six.text_type(value)
         try:
             return salt.utils.json.loads(value)
         except (ValueError, TypeError, AttributeError):
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ class SerializerExtension(Extension, object):
 
     def load_text(self, value):
         if isinstance(value, TemplateModule):
-            value = str(value)
+            value = six.text_type(value)
 
         return value
 
diff --git a/salt/utils/job.py b/salt/utils/job.py
index d9432259e4..53a740c157 100644
--- a/salt/utils/job.py
+++ b/salt/utils/job.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Functions for interacting with the job cache
 '''
 
 # Import Python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 # Import Salt libs
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def store_job(opts, load, event=None, mminion=None):
 
     if event:
         # If the return data is invalid, just ignore it
-        log.info('Got return from {id} for job {jid}'.format(**load))
+        log.info('Got return from %s for job %s', load['id'], load['jid'])
         event.fire_event(load,
                          salt.utils.event.tagify([load['jid'], 'ret', load['id']], 'job'))
         event.fire_ret_load(load)
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ def store_job(opts, load, event=None, mminion=None):
 
     # do not cache job results if explicitly requested
     if load.get('jid') == 'nocache':
-        log.debug('Ignoring job return with jid for caching {jid} from {id}'.format(**load))
+        log.debug('Ignoring job return with jid for caching %s from %s',
+                  load['jid'], load['id'])
         return
 
     # otherwise, write to the master cache
diff --git a/salt/utils/json.py b/salt/utils/json.py
index 15e76a7ec3..50fe09f314 100644
--- a/salt/utils/json.py
+++ b/salt/utils/json.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Functions to work with JSON
 '''
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Python libs
 import json  # future lint: blacklisted-module
diff --git a/salt/utils/kickstart.py b/salt/utils/kickstart.py
index 9f9376c780..c291b53363 100644
--- a/salt/utils/kickstart.py
+++ b/salt/utils/kickstart.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Utilities for managing kickstart
 
 .. versionadded:: Beryllium
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import shlex
 import argparse  # pylint: disable=minimum-python-version
 import salt.utils.files
diff --git a/salt/utils/kinds.py b/salt/utils/kinds.py
index ebeae0d91d..d6595a91b3 100644
--- a/salt/utils/kinds.py
+++ b/salt/utils/kinds.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Application Kinds of Salt apps.
 These are used to indicate what kind of Application is using RAET
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from collections import namedtuple
 from salt.utils.odict import OrderedDict
 
diff --git a/salt/utils/lazy.py b/salt/utils/lazy.py
index a5f96953a4..6d770426b6 100644
--- a/salt/utils/lazy.py
+++ b/salt/utils/lazy.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Lazily-evaluated data structures, primarily used by Salt's loader
 '''
 
 # Import Python Libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 import collections
 import salt.exceptions
diff --git a/salt/utils/listdiffer.py b/salt/utils/listdiffer.py
index d0451766c9..5c1a77ea77 100644
--- a/salt/utils/listdiffer.py
+++ b/salt/utils/listdiffer.py
@@ -16,9 +16,11 @@ The following can be retrieved:
 
 Note: All dictionaries keys are expected to be strings
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from salt.utils.dictdiffer import recursive_diff
 
+from salt.ext import six
+
 
 def list_diff(list_a, list_b, key):
     return ListDictDiffer(list_a, list_b, key)
@@ -226,9 +228,9 @@ class ListDictDiffer(object):
             for recursive_item in self._get_recursive_difference(type='all'):
                 # We want the unset values as well
                 recursive_item.ignore_unset_values = False
-                key_val = str(recursive_item.past_dict[self._key]) \
+                key_val = six.text_type(recursive_item.past_dict[self._key]) \
                         if self._key in recursive_item.past_dict \
-                        else str(recursive_item.current_dict[self._key])
+                        else six.text_type(recursive_item.current_dict[self._key])
 
                 for change in recursive_item.changed():
                     if change != self._key:
@@ -238,9 +240,9 @@ class ListDictDiffer(object):
                 # We want the unset values as well
             for recursive_item in self._get_recursive_difference(type='intersect'):
                 recursive_item.ignore_unset_values = False
-                key_val = str(recursive_item.past_dict[self._key]) \
+                key_val = six.text_type(recursive_item.past_dict[self._key]) \
                         if self._key in recursive_item.past_dict \
-                        else str(recursive_item.current_dict[self._key])
+                        else six.text_type(recursive_item.current_dict[self._key])
 
                 for change in recursive_item.changed():
                     if change != self._key:
diff --git a/salt/utils/locales.py b/salt/utils/locales.py
index c114a985ae..eacfa543b0 100644
--- a/salt/utils/locales.py
+++ b/salt/utils/locales.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ the locale utils used by salt
 '''
 
 # Import Python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import sys
 
 # Import Salt libs
diff --git a/salt/utils/mac_utils.py b/salt/utils/mac_utils.py
index 552ff4e59c..f9fdb2ae8b 100644
--- a/salt/utils/mac_utils.py
+++ b/salt/utils/mac_utils.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Helper functions for use by mac modules
 .. versionadded:: 2016.3.0
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Python Libraries
 import logging
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from salt.exceptions import CommandExecutionError, SaltInvocationError,\
 
 # Import Third Party Libs
 from salt.ext.six.moves import range
+from salt.ext import six
 
 DEFAULT_SHELL = salt.grains.extra.shell()['shell']
 
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ def _run_all(cmd):
 
     for idx, item in enumerate(cmd):
         if not isinstance(cmd[idx], six.string_types):
-            cmd[idx] = str(cmd[idx])
+            cmd[idx] = six.text_type(cmd[idx])
 
     cmd = ' '.join(cmd)
 
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ def _run_all(cmd):
     try:
         proc.run()
     except TimedProcTimeoutError as exc:
-        ret['stdout'] = str(exc)
+        ret['stdout'] = six.text_type(exc)
         ret['stderr'] = ''
         ret['retcode'] = 1
         ret['pid'] = proc.process.pid
diff --git a/salt/utils/mako.py b/salt/utils/mako.py
index 5a23e7688f..7e5adaafe2 100644
--- a/salt/utils/mako.py
+++ b/salt/utils/mako.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 '''
 Functions for working with Mako templates
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 try:
     from mako.lookup import TemplateCollection, TemplateLookup  # pylint: disable=import-error,3rd-party-module-not-gated
diff --git a/salt/utils/master.py b/salt/utils/master.py
index 389ae47aa3..5d734d43d9 100644
--- a/salt/utils/master.py
+++ b/salt/utils/master.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os
 import logging
 import signal
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
             )
             tgt_type = expr_form
 
-        log.debug('New instance of {0} created.'.format(
-            self.__class__.__name__))
+        log.debug('New instance of %s created.',
+                  self.__class__.__name__)
         if opts is None:
-            log.error('{0}: Missing master opts init arg.'.format(
-                self.__class__.__name__))
+            log.error('%s: Missing master opts init arg.',
+                      self.__class__.__name__)
             raise SaltException('{0}: Missing master opts init arg.'.format(
                 self.__class__.__name__))
         else:
@@ -109,12 +109,11 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
         self.pillar_fallback = pillar_fallback
         self.cache = salt.cache.factory(opts)
         log.debug(
-            'Init settings: tgt: \'{0}\', tgt_type: \'{1}\', saltenv: \'{2}\', '
-            'use_cached_grains: {3}, use_cached_pillar: {4}, '
-            'grains_fallback: {5}, pillar_fallback: {6}'.format(
-                tgt, tgt_type, saltenv, use_cached_grains, use_cached_pillar,
-                grains_fallback, pillar_fallback
-            )
+            'Init settings: tgt: \'%s\', tgt_type: \'%s\', saltenv: \'%s\', '
+            'use_cached_grains: %s, use_cached_pillar: %s, '
+            'grains_fallback: %s, pillar_fallback: %s',
+            tgt, tgt_type, saltenv, use_cached_grains, use_cached_pillar,
+            grains_fallback, pillar_fallback
         )
 
     def _get_cached_mine_data(self, *minion_ids):
@@ -152,10 +151,9 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
             mdata = self.cache.fetch('minions/{0}'.format(minion_id), 'data')
             if not isinstance(mdata, dict):
                 log.warning(
-                    'cache.fetch should always return a dict. ReturnedType: {0}, MinionId: {1}'.format(
-                        type(mdata).__name__,
-                        minion_id
-                    )
+                    'cache.fetch should always return a dict. ReturnedType: %s, MinionId: %s',
+                    type(mdata).__name__,
+                    minion_id
                 )
                 continue
             if 'grains' in mdata:
@@ -166,7 +164,7 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
 
     def _get_live_minion_grains(self, minion_ids):
         # Returns a dict of grains fetched directly from the minions
-        log.debug('Getting live grains for minions: "{0}"'.format(minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Getting live grains for minions: "%s"', minion_ids)
         client = salt.client.get_local_client(self.opts['conf_file'])
         ret = client.cmd(
                        ','.join(minion_ids),
@@ -181,19 +179,18 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
             return {}
         if not minion_grains:
             log.warning(
-                'Cannot get pillar data for {0}: no grains supplied.'.format(
-                    minion_id
-                )
+                'Cannot get pillar data for %s: no grains supplied.',
+                minion_id
             )
             return {}
-        log.debug('Getting live pillar for {0}'.format(minion_id))
+        log.debug('Getting live pillar for %s', minion_id)
         pillar = salt.pillar.Pillar(
                             self.opts,
                             minion_grains,
                             minion_id,
                             self.saltenv,
                             self.opts['ext_pillar'])
-        log.debug('Compiling pillar for {0}'.format(minion_id))
+        log.debug('Compiling pillar for %s', minion_id)
         ret = pillar.compile_pillar()
         return ret
 
@@ -208,14 +205,14 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
         if self.use_cached_grains:
             cret = dict([(minion_id, mcache) for (minion_id, mcache) in six.iteritems(cached_grains) if mcache])
             missed_minions = [minion_id for minion_id in minion_ids if minion_id not in cret]
-            log.debug('Missed cached minion grains for: {0}'.format(missed_minions))
+            log.debug('Missed cached minion grains for: %s', missed_minions)
             if self.grains_fallback:
                 lret = self._get_live_minion_grains(missed_minions)
             ret = dict(list(six.iteritems(dict([(minion_id, {}) for minion_id in minion_ids]))) + list(lret.items()) + list(cret.items()))
         else:
             lret = self._get_live_minion_grains(minion_ids)
             missed_minions = [minion_id for minion_id in minion_ids if minion_id not in lret]
-            log.debug('Missed live minion grains for: {0}'.format(missed_minions))
+            log.debug('Missed live minion grains for: %s', missed_minions)
             if self.grains_fallback:
                 cret = dict([(minion_id, mcache) for (minion_id, mcache) in six.iteritems(cached_grains) if mcache])
             ret = dict(list(six.iteritems(dict([(minion_id, {}) for minion_id in minion_ids]))) + list(lret.items()) + list(cret.items()))
@@ -233,14 +230,14 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
         if self.use_cached_pillar:
             cret = dict([(minion_id, mcache) for (minion_id, mcache) in six.iteritems(cached_pillar) if mcache])
             missed_minions = [minion_id for minion_id in minion_ids if minion_id not in cret]
-            log.debug('Missed cached minion pillars for: {0}'.format(missed_minions))
+            log.debug('Missed cached minion pillars for: %s', missed_minions)
             if self.pillar_fallback:
                 lret = dict([(minion_id, self._get_live_minion_pillar(minion_id, grains.get(minion_id, {}))) for minion_id in missed_minions])
             ret = dict(list(six.iteritems(dict([(minion_id, {}) for minion_id in minion_ids]))) + list(lret.items()) + list(cret.items()))
         else:
             lret = dict([(minion_id, self._get_live_minion_pillar(minion_id, grains.get(minion_id, {}))) for minion_id in minion_ids])
             missed_minions = [minion_id for minion_id in minion_ids if minion_id not in lret]
-            log.debug('Missed live minion pillars for: {0}'.format(missed_minions))
+            log.debug('Missed live minion pillars for: %s', missed_minions)
             if self.pillar_fallback:
                 cret = dict([(minion_id, mcache) for (minion_id, mcache) in six.iteritems(cached_pillar) if mcache])
             ret = dict(list(six.iteritems(dict([(minion_id, {}) for minion_id in minion_ids]))) + list(lret.items()) + list(cret.items()))
@@ -253,9 +250,9 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
         _res = ckminions.check_minions(self.tgt, self.tgt_type)
         minion_ids = _res['minions']
         if len(minion_ids) == 0:
-            log.debug('No minions matched for tgt="{0}" and tgt_type="{1}"'.format(self.tgt, self.tgt_type))
+            log.debug('No minions matched for tgt="%s" and tgt_type="%s"', self.tgt, self.tgt_type)
             return {}
-        log.debug('Matching minions for tgt="{0}" and tgt_type="{1}": {2}'.format(self.tgt, self.tgt_type, minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Matching minions for tgt="%s" and tgt_type="%s": %s', self.tgt, self.tgt_type, minion_ids)
         return minion_ids
 
     def get_minion_pillar(self):
@@ -286,11 +283,11 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
         else:
             cached_minion_grains = {}
             cached_minion_pillars = {}
-        log.debug('Getting minion grain data for: {0}'.format(minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Getting minion grain data for: %s', minion_ids)
         minion_grains = self._get_minion_grains(
                                         *minion_ids,
                                         cached_grains=cached_minion_grains)
-        log.debug('Getting minion pillar data for: {0}'.format(minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Getting minion pillar data for: %s', minion_ids)
         minion_pillars = self._get_minion_pillar(
                                         *minion_ids,
                                         grains=minion_grains,
@@ -317,7 +314,7 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
             cached_minion_grains, cached_minion_pillars = self._get_cached_minion_data(*minion_ids)
         else:
             cached_minion_grains = {}
-        log.debug('Getting minion grain data for: {0}'.format(minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Getting minion grain data for: %s', minion_ids)
         minion_grains = self._get_minion_grains(
                                         *minion_ids,
                                         cached_grains=cached_minion_grains)
@@ -329,7 +326,7 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
         '''
         mine_data = {}
         minion_ids = self._tgt_to_list()
-        log.debug('Getting cached mine data for: {0}'.format(minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Getting cached mine data for: %s', minion_ids)
         mine_data = self._get_cached_mine_data(*minion_ids)
         return mine_data
 
@@ -355,9 +352,9 @@ class MasterPillarUtil(object):
             return False
 
         minion_ids = self._tgt_to_list()
-        log.debug('Clearing cached {0} data for: {1}'.format(
-            ', '.join(clear_what),
-            minion_ids))
+        log.debug('Clearing cached %s data for: %s',
+                  ', '.join(clear_what),
+                  minion_ids)
         if clear_pillar == clear_grains:
             # clear_pillar and clear_grains are both True or both False.
             # This means we don't deal with pillar/grains caches at all.
@@ -612,7 +609,7 @@ class ConnectedCache(MultiprocessingProcess):
             # check for next cache-request
             if socks.get(creq_in) == zmq.POLLIN:
                 msg = serial.loads(creq_in.recv())
-                log.debug('ConCache Received request: {0}'.format(msg))
+                log.debug('ConCache Received request: %s', msg)
 
                 # requests to the minion list are send as str's
                 if isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
@@ -649,7 +646,8 @@ class ConnectedCache(MultiprocessingProcess):
 
                     if isinstance(data, six.string_types):
                         if data not in self.minions:
-                            log.debug('ConCache Adding minion {0} to cache'.format(new_c_data[0]))
+                            log.debug('ConCache Adding minion %s to cache',
+                                      new_c_data[0])
                             self.minions.append(data)
 
                     elif isinstance(data, list):
@@ -660,7 +658,7 @@ class ConnectedCache(MultiprocessingProcess):
                     log.debug('ConCache Got malformed result dict from worker')
                     del new_c_data
 
-                log.info('ConCache {0} entries in cache'.format(len(self.minions)))
+                log.info('ConCache %s entries in cache', len(self.minions))
 
             # check for next timer-event to start new jobs
             if socks.get(timer_in) == zmq.POLLIN:
diff --git a/salt/utils/mattermost.py b/salt/utils/mattermost.py
index 7573ac2272..4229000868 100644
--- a/salt/utils/mattermost.py
+++ b/salt/utils/mattermost.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Library for interacting with Mattermost Incoming Webhooks
           hook: 3tdgo8restnxiykdx88wqtxryr
           api_url: https://example.com
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import logging
 # Import 3rd-party libs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from salt.version import __version__
 # pylint: enable=import-error,no-name-in-module
 import salt.utils.http
 
+from salt.ext import six
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ def query(hook=None,
            'res': True}
 
     base_url = _urljoin(api_url, '/hooks/')
-    url = _urljoin(base_url, str(hook))
+    url = _urljoin(base_url, six.text_type(hook))
 
     result = salt.utils.http.query(url,
                                    method,
diff --git a/salt/utils/memcached.py b/salt/utils/memcached.py
index 03ff6d6e91..78d39dc409 100644
--- a/salt/utils/memcached.py
+++ b/salt/utils/memcached.py
@@ -36,12 +36,13 @@ better to always use a named configuration profile, as shown above.
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 
 # Import salt libs
 from salt.exceptions import CommandExecutionError, SaltInvocationError
 from salt.ext.six import integer_types
+from salt.ext import six
 
 # Import third party libs
 try:
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ def get_conn(opts, profile=None, host=None, port=None):
         host = conf.get('memcached.host', DEFAULT_HOST)
         port = conf.get('memcached.port', DEFAULT_PORT)
 
-    if not str(port).isdigit():
+    if not six.text_type(port).isdigit():
         raise SaltInvocationError('port must be an integer')
 
     if HAS_LIBS:
diff --git a/salt/utils/migrations.py b/salt/utils/migrations.py
index 4e3c014c43..dbd95ee26a 100644
--- a/salt/utils/migrations.py
+++ b/salt/utils/migrations.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 '''
 Migration tools
 '''
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import python libs
 import os.path
diff --git a/salt/utils/minion.py b/salt/utils/minion.py
index 67ae2f09b1..7042738c46 100644
--- a/salt/utils/minion.py
+++ b/salt/utils/minion.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Utility functions for minions
 '''
 
 # Import Python Libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os
 import logging
 import threading
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def _read_proc_file(path, opts):
         pid = data.get('pid')
         if pid:
             log.warning(
-                'PID {0} exists but does not appear to be a salt process.'.format(pid)
+                'PID %s exists but does not appear to be a salt process.', pid
             )
         try:
             os.remove(path)
diff --git a/salt/utils/minions.py b/salt/utils/minions.py
index 06a31edc0d..1285f11744 100644
--- a/salt/utils/minions.py
+++ b/salt/utils/minions.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ expected to return
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os
 import fnmatch
 import re
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def parse_target(target_expression):
 
     match = TARGET_REX.match(target_expression)
     if not match:
-        log.warning('Unable to parse target "{0}"'.format(target_expression))
+        log.warning('Unable to parse target "%s"', target_expression)
         ret = {
             'engine': None,
             'delimiter': None,
@@ -102,11 +102,11 @@ def nodegroup_comp(nodegroup, nodegroups, skip=None, first_call=True):
     if skip is None:
         skip = set()
     elif nodegroup in skip:
-        log.error('Failed nodegroup expansion: illegal nested nodegroup "{0}"'.format(nodegroup))
+        log.error('Failed nodegroup expansion: illegal nested nodegroup "%s"', nodegroup)
         return ''
 
     if nodegroup not in nodegroups:
-        log.error('Failed nodegroup expansion: unknown nodegroup "{0}"'.format(nodegroup))
+        log.error('Failed nodegroup expansion: unknown nodegroup "%s"', nodegroup)
         return ''
 
     nglookup = nodegroups[nodegroup]
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def nodegroup_comp(nodegroup, nodegroups, skip=None, first_call=True):
     opers = ['and', 'or', 'not', '(', ')']
     for word in words:
         if not isinstance(word, six.string_types):
-            word = str(word)
+            word = six.text_type(word)
         if word in opers:
             ret.append(word)
         elif len(word) >= 3 and word.startswith('N@'):
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def nodegroup_comp(nodegroup, nodegroups, skip=None, first_call=True):
 
     skip.remove(nodegroup)
 
-    log.debug('nodegroup_comp({0}) => {1}'.format(nodegroup, ret))
+    log.debug('nodegroup_comp(%s) => %s', nodegroup, ret)
     # Only return list form if a nodegroup was expanded. Otherwise return
     # the original string to conserve backwards compat
     if expanded_nodegroup or not first_call:
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                     # Target is a network?
                     tgt = ipaddress.ip_network(tgt)
                 except:  # pylint: disable=bare-except
-                    log.error('Invalid IP/CIDR target: {0}'.format(tgt))
+                    log.error('Invalid IP/CIDR target: %s', tgt)
                     return {'minions': [],
                             'missing': []}
             proto = 'ipv{0}'.format(tgt.version)
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                 if grains is None or proto not in grains:
                     match = False
                 elif isinstance(tgt, (ipaddress.IPv4Address, ipaddress.IPv6Address)):
-                    match = str(tgt) in grains[proto]
+                    match = six.text_type(tgt) in grains[proto]
                 else:
                     match = salt.utils.network.in_subnet(tgt, grains[proto])
 
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
             return self._range.expand(expr)
         except seco.range.RangeException as exc:
             log.error(
-                'Range exception in compound match: {0}'.format(exc)
+                'Range exception in compound match: %s', exc
             )
             cache_enabled = self.opts.get('minion_data_cache', False)
             if greedy:
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
             log.error('Compound target that is neither string, list nor tuple')
             return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
         minions = set(self._pki_minions())
-        log.debug('minions: {0}'.format(minions))
+        log.debug('minions: %s', minions)
 
         if self.opts.get('minion_data_cache', False):
             ref = {'G': self._check_grain_minions,
@@ -505,13 +505,13 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                 if word in opers:
                     if results:
                         if results[-1] == '(' and word in ('and', 'or'):
-                            log.error('Invalid beginning operator after "(": {0}'.format(word))
+                            log.error('Invalid beginning operator after "(": %s', word)
                             return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
                         if word == 'not':
                             if not results[-1] in ('&', '|', '('):
                                 results.append('&')
                             results.append('(')
-                            results.append(str(set(minions)))
+                            results.append(six.text_type(set(minions)))
                             results.append('-')
                             unmatched.append('-')
                         elif word == 'and':
@@ -524,8 +524,8 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                         elif word == ')':
                             if not unmatched or unmatched[-1] != '(':
                                 log.error('Invalid compound expr (unexpected '
-                                          'right parenthesis): {0}'
-                                          .format(expr))
+                                          'right parenthesis): %s',
+                                          expr)
                                 return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
                             results.append(word)
                             unmatched.pop()
@@ -533,14 +533,14 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                                 results.append(')')
                                 unmatched.pop()
                         else:  # Won't get here, unless oper is added
-                            log.error('Unhandled oper in compound expr: {0}'
-                                      .format(expr))
+                            log.error('Unhandled oper in compound expr: %s',
+                                      expr)
                             return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
                     else:
                         # seq start with oper, fail
                         if word == 'not':
                             results.append('(')
-                            results.append(str(set(minions)))
+                            results.append(six.text_type(set(minions)))
                             results.append('-')
                             unmatched.append('-')
                         elif word == '(':
@@ -549,24 +549,23 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                         else:
                             log.error(
                                 'Expression may begin with'
-                                ' binary operator: {0}'.format(word)
+                                ' binary operator: %s', word
                             )
                             return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
 
                 elif target_info and target_info['engine']:
                     if 'N' == target_info['engine']:
                         # Nodegroups should already be expanded/resolved to other engines
-                        log.error('Detected nodegroup expansion failure of "{0}"'.format(word))
+                        log.error('Detected nodegroup expansion failure of "%s"', word)
                         return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
                     engine = ref.get(target_info['engine'])
                     if not engine:
                         # If an unknown engine is called at any time, fail out
                         log.error(
-                            'Unrecognized target engine "{0}" for'
-                            ' target expression "{1}"'.format(
-                                target_info['engine'],
-                                word,
-                            )
+                            'Unrecognized target engine "%s" for'
+                            ' target expression "%s"',
+                            target_info['engine'],
+                            word,
                         )
                         return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
 
@@ -576,7 +575,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                     engine_args.append(greedy)
 
                     _results = engine(*engine_args)
-                    results.append(str(set(_results['minions'])))
+                    results.append(six.text_type(set(_results['minions'])))
                     missing.extend(_results['missing'])
                     if unmatched and unmatched[-1] == '-':
                         results.append(')')
@@ -585,7 +584,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                 else:
                     # The match is not explicitly defined, evaluate as a glob
                     _results = self._check_glob_minions(word, True)
-                    results.append(str(set(_results['minions'])))
+                    results.append(six.text_type(set(_results['minions'])))
                     if unmatched and unmatched[-1] == '-':
                         results.append(')')
                         unmatched.pop()
@@ -594,13 +593,13 @@ class CkMinions(object):
             results.extend([')' for item in unmatched])
 
             results = ' '.join(results)
-            log.debug('Evaluating final compound matching expr: {0}'
-                      .format(results))
+            log.debug('Evaluating final compound matching expr: %s',
+                      results)
             try:
                 minions = list(eval(results))  # pylint: disable=W0123
                 return {'minions': minions, 'missing': missing}
             except Exception:
-                log.error('Invalid compound target: {0}'.format(expr))
+                log.error('Invalid compound target: %s', expr)
                 return {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
 
         return {'minions': list(minions),
@@ -685,8 +684,8 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                 _res = check_func(expr, greedy)
         except Exception:
             log.exception(
-                    'Failed matching available minions with {0} pattern: {1}'
-                    .format(tgt_type, expr))
+                    'Failed matching available minions with %s pattern: %s',
+                    tgt_type, expr)
             _res = {'minions': [], 'missing': []}
         return _res
 
@@ -703,7 +702,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
 
         target_info = parse_target(auth_entry)
         if not target_info:
-            log.error('Failed to parse valid target "{0}"'.format(auth_entry))
+            log.error('Failed to parse valid target "%s"', auth_entry)
 
         v_matcher = ref.get(target_info['engine'])
         v_expr = target_info['pattern']
@@ -754,7 +753,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                 else:
                     vals.append(False)
             except Exception:
-                log.error('Invalid regular expression: {0}'.format(regex))
+                log.error('Invalid regular expression: %s', regex)
         return vals and all(vals)
 
     def any_auth(self, form, auth_list, fun, arg, tgt=None, tgt_type='glob'):
@@ -863,7 +862,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                 continue
             if isinstance(auth_list_entry, dict):
                 if len(auth_list_entry) != 1:
-                    log.info('Malformed ACL: {0}'.format(auth_list_entry))
+                    log.info('Malformed ACL: %s', auth_list_entry)
                     continue
             allowed_minions.update(set(auth_list_entry.keys()))
             for key in auth_list_entry:
@@ -1097,7 +1096,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                     break
                 if cond_arg is None:  # None == '.*' i.e. allow any
                     continue
-                if not self.match_check(cond_arg, str(args[i])):
+                if not self.match_check(cond_arg, six.text_type(args[i])):
                     good = False
                     break
             if not good:
@@ -1110,7 +1109,7 @@ class CkMinions(object):
                     break
                 if v is None:  # None == '.*' i.e. allow any
                     continue
-                if not self.match_check(v, str(kwargs[k])):
+                if not self.match_check(v, six.text_type(kwargs[k])):
                     good = False
                     break
             if good:
diff --git a/salt/utils/mount.py b/salt/utils/mount.py
index 67f69eb23f..4efe6a51c3 100644
--- a/salt/utils/mount.py
+++ b/salt/utils/mount.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Common functions for managing mounts
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 import os
 
diff --git a/salt/utils/msazure.py b/salt/utils/msazure.py
index 8080b9049e..c5d3f49e01 100644
--- a/salt/utils/msazure.py
+++ b/salt/utils/msazure.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Utilities for accessing storage container blobs on Azure
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import logging
 import inspect
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def object_to_dict(obj):
                 continue
             # This is ugly, but inspect.isclass() doesn't seem to work
             try:
-                if inspect.isclass(obj) or 'class' in str(type(obj.__dict__.get(item))):
+                if inspect.isclass(obj) or 'class' in six.text_type(type(obj.__dict__.get(item))):
                     ret[item] = object_to_dict(obj.__dict__[item])
                 elif isinstance(obj.__dict__[item], six.text_type):
                     ret[item] = obj.__dict__[item].encode('ascii', 'replace')
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_immutabletypes.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_immutabletypes.py
index f684296324..ec2c1d432a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_immutabletypes.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_immutabletypes.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 '''
 
 # Import Python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Salt Testing libs
 from tests.support.unit import TestCase
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py
index f7c909d804..a988c3bcfe 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Tests for salt.utils.jid
 '''
 
 # Import Python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import datetime
 import os
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_json.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_json.py
index be3763e789..28a2223b57 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_json.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_json.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Tests for salt.utils.json
 '''
 
 # Import Python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Salt libs
 import salt.utils.json
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_kwarg_regex.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_kwarg_regex.py
index 5b2ba201a3..1b6838db10 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_kwarg_regex.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_kwarg_regex.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 '''
 
 # Import Pytohn libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Salt Testing libs
 from tests.support.unit import TestCase
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_listdiffer.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_listdiffer.py
index 2df44278e3..18be240d38 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_listdiffer.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_listdiffer.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Salt Testing libs
 from tests.support.unit import TestCase
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_locales.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_locales.py
index 60e2bd8151..7a7a24c464 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_locales.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_locales.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # coding: utf-8
 
 # Import Python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 
 # Import Salt libs
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_mac_utils.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_mac_utils.py
index 4c60e928ed..9355c0219d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_mac_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_mac_utils.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ mac_utils tests
 '''
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Salt Testing Libs
 from tests.support.unit import TestCase, skipIf
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_minions.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_minions.py
index fbec4e2c8b..aaca522d65 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_minions.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_minions.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 # Import python libs
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 # Import Salt Libs
 import salt.utils.minions as minions