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What I've Been Reading This Week: Missouri Labor & Employment Law Edition


Over the past several years, I have written "What I've Been Reading" posts on a wide range of topics nearly every week.  Some posts have focused on minimum wage, right to work, labor law, and human resources matters, among other topics.  However, this is the first "What I've Been Reading" post that has focused on labor and employment law matters exclusively in one state.  This week, I came across several great articles on labor and employment law topics in Missouri that I think warrant a post dedicated to the issues that have come up in the state.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Right to Work Impacts Legislative Race in Missouri

Right to work laws are a hot button issue across the country, especially in states where right to work laws have recently failed to become law.  Missouri is no exception as a race for the 23rd Senatorial District between three candidates has centered in large part upon each candidate's position on right to work in the state.  Worth taking a look at...especially as similar right to work matters will likely come into play in congressional races across the country.


Missouri Supreme Court Invalidates Republican Unemployment Benefits Bill

By a 4 - 3 vote, the Missouri Supreme Court recently invalidated House Bill 150 ("HB 150") which had been approved by the Republican controlled State Legislature.  HB 150 sought to cap unemployment benefits for laid off workers at 13 weeks.  According to the Supreme Court, the Missouri Senate missed its constitutional window to act, in regard to overcoming Governor Jay Nixon's veto of the bill.  As a result, the veto override of HB 150 was found to be invalid.  Very interesting outcome...



The Kansas City Star has an update on the dispute over a ballot initiative in 2015 that would have raised Kansas City's minimum wage rate to $15/hour.  In 2015, although a petition initiative was developed to put the $15/hour minimum wage issue on the November 2015 ballot, Jackson County Judge Justine Del Muro ruled that Missouri law prohibited Kansas City from adopting a higher minimum wage than the state set $7.65/hour rate.  This will be interesting to see play out.  Stay tuned for more.

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