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Today is the Day: Missouri Voters To Decide On Right to Work Law


At long last, after several months of back and forth between labor unions and pro-employer groups, voters in Missouri will head to the polls today and cast their vote on Proposition A (also known as the right to work law signed by then Governor Eric Greitens last year).  Readers will recall that after Governor Greitens signed the legislation into law, an effort was launched by labor unions and their supporters to get the matter on the ballot.  After obtaining the necessary signatures to force a vote on the matter, Proposition A was put on the ballot...but was eventually moved up by the State Legislature for an August 7th vote, rather than in the general election in November.

Since the matter was put on the ballot, labor unions have been aggressive in raising money (in excess of $16 million) to fight the right to work ballot measure.  On the other hand, supporters of right to work in Missouri have garnered a fraction of that amount, with reports putting those fundraising amounts at barely $1 million.  While strong fundraising numbers alone do not indicate a victory, it has been noted that labor unions have been using this money to aggressively organize a get out the vote operation to get supporters to vote against the right to work law.  With supporters of the right to work law having less money to air ads and organize a substantial get out the vote effort, observers question whether right to work supporters have done enough to bring awareness to Proposition A and get voters to the polls to support the measure.

Ahead of today's vote, labor unions appear confident in their ability to overturn the right to work law.  Last week, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka boldly proclaimed that labor unions would prevail on the matter.  (But really, who would expect him to concede defeat, even publicly?)  With that being said, there appears to be strong opposition to right to work in the state, such that I think it is likely (if not probable) that labor unions will prevail today.  Of course, anything can happen, but once all the votes are tabulated, I think pro-employer groups and Republicans will have to go back to the drawing board.  Should labor unions prevail, this is a much needed win in their column after a rough go of it over the past few months.



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