Right-to-work measures advance, unlikely to appear before voters

JEFFERSON CITY • After hours of debate this week, a House panel on Wednesday approved controversial right-to-work legislation, bundling five similar bills into one package that will soon head to the House floor for consideration.

The legislation is a longtime priority for Missouri Republicans who argue that the measure – which limits unions' ability to collect dues from their members – is a pro-business job creator. Opponents contend the legislation amounts to government overreach in negotiations between employers and employees.

Before the vote, Rep. Doug Beck, D-Affton, introduced an amendment that would put the proposal before voters through a referendum, something Democrats have insisted is necessary given the divisiveness of the issue and the impact it could have on unions and their members.

“This one issue will have a measured consequence on the livelihoods of so many Missourians, it is appropriate that this issue be decided at the ballot box, and not by politicians in Jefferson City,” Beck said, comparing it to a photo ID voting requirement that voters approved last year.

Republicans on the committee were not amenable to the idea.

“Should we just subjugate all of our authority and just allow every vote to come before (voters)? Let’s just go home,” Rep. Rocky Miller, R-Lake Ozark, fired back.

It’s a long shot attempt to keep Missouri from becoming the 28th right-to-work state, one that’s already been dismissed by GOP leaders eager to get the legislation to the governor’s desk as quickly as possible.

Senate President Ron Richard, R-Joplin, called the effort “sour apples” last week. House Speaker Todd Richardson said voters have already spoken by electing Gov. Eric Greitens, who vowed to sign right-to-work into law on the campaign trail.

“This is an issue that has been litigated in the public, in the election cycle,” said Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

Even without a referendum clause in the legislation, right-to-work opponents are still hoping voters will weigh in. Missouri AFL-CIO President Mike Louis has filed several versions of an initiative petition that would amend the state constitution to protect union negotiating rights.

The petition for the 2018 ballot would essentially reverse any right-to-work law passed during the upcoming session by giving employers and employees the "unalienable" right to negotiate contracts that would require workers to pay fees covering the costs of union representation.

Some of the proposals introduced this session contained a grandfather clause that would exempt agreements or negotiations settled before the legislation passed.

The package that passed committee today contains no such clause, reading that “any agreement, understanding, or practice, written or oral, implied or expressed, between any labor organization and employer that violates the rights of employees as guaranteed under this section is unlawful, null and void, and of no legal effect.”

Under the bill, violators could be charged with a class C felony.

A Senate panel also held hearings on similar right-to-work bills on Wednesday. No action was taken, but lawmakers heard public testimony.

Celeste Bott • 573-556-6186

@celestebott on Twitter

?cbott@post-dispatch.com

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