Skip to main content

Missouri Republicans Move to Put Right to Work Measure on August Primary Ballot


Readers who follow this blog are well aware of attempts by Republicans in Missouri to make the state the next right to work state in the country.  (States with right to work laws provide that employees cannot be forced to join a union as a condition of employment nor can employees be required to pay union dues if they are not a member of the union.  These non-member union dues are often called ‘agency fees’ and are collected by unions, from non-members, to help pay for the collective bargaining that a union does on behalf of all employees, regardless of whether the employee is a member of the union or not).

After a few false starts over the past few years, Republicans in the state were able to pass a right to work bill last year.  Republican Governor Eric Greitens subsequently signed the bill into law and Republicans cheered (while Democrats and labor unions simmered).  However, pro labor supporters quickly regrouped and obtained enough signatures to put the right to work measure on the ballot in November so that voters in the state could decide whether to allow the law to stay in place.  (Currently, the law remains on hold until voters have a say).  Unsurprisingly, money started to pour into the fight as supporters on both sides of the matter sought to ramp up support for (and against) the upcoming November ballot measure.

But as the saying goes, hold the phone.  Yesterday, the House Econmic Development Committee in the state voted along party lines, 8 - 4, to put the right to work measure on the August primary ballot rather than on the November general election ballot.  Critics were quick to call this a ploy by Republicans to limit voter turnout against right to work.  As some readers might know, primary voter turnout is often lower than general election turnout.  Traditionally, Republicans vote in larger numbers in primaries than do Democrats.  Given that Republicans in Missouri are attempting to ensure the right to work measure passes (and Missouri remains a right to work state), Democrats have been quick to call foul.  

For the time being, Republicans are one step closer to having this measure placed on the August primary ballot.  The matter now heads to the full House for further debate and a vote.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:  http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/plan-to-move-missouri-s-right-to-work-vote-to/article_f6b3e253-6c91-5b9b-baf4-5e8a3eb7d61c.amp.html

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike

A few months ago, readers might remember that I pointed out that the New Jersey Legislature had voted to approve a minimum wage hike in the state .  Under the approved legislation, the minimum wage rate would rise to $10.10/hour in the next year and at least $15/hour over the next five.  (The current minimum wage rate in the state is $8.38/hour).  In that article, I had noted that the bill was then going to go before Governor Chris Christie for his approval or veto. As I had suggested previously, I thought that the Governor would likely veto the bill based upon his prior actions and comments on similar legislation.  Well, a few days ago, Governor Christie did just that and vetoed the bill on the grounds that it "would trigger an escalation of wages that will make doing business in New Jersey unfathomable."  Pointing to the increase in hourly minimum wage rates, the Governor referred to the bill as a "really radical increase."  (It is interesting to c...
Post a Comment
Read more