Missouri Legislature advances right-to-work proposals

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's Republican-led Legislature advanced two measures Friday in an attempt to protect a right-to-work law they passed last year prohibiting mandatory union fees in workplaces.

Last year's law has remained on hold pending a union-backed referendum on repealing the measure, which is scheduled to occur during the November general election.

One measure passed Friday by the Senate would move that referendum up to the August primary election, shifting an expected heavy union turnout away from Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's re-election bid.

The other measure, given initial approval Friday by the House, would put an additional question to voters about whether to enshrine the right to work in the state constitution. That would occur at the November election, unless the governor set a special election that could coincide with the August referendum.

Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, who also is president of the Missouri State Building and Construction Trades Council, described the two measures as "a slap in the face again for working men and women,"

Walsh said she would attempt to block the proposed constitutional amendment from coming to a vote in the Senate.

It's unclear whether senators will take up the constitutional amendment. But Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe defended the chamber's vote to move up the referendum on the state law.

"Every day that we can move forward the opportunity for Missouri to be a right-to-work state, we believe it's an economic advantage for the citizens and the businesses here," Kehoe said.

Republican Sen. Dave Schatz said there were businesses on the fence about locating in Missouri because of the uncertainty surrounding the law. Moving up the referendum on repeal of right-to-work would help them, he said.

"It's imperative to get this question answered sooner than later," said Schatz of Sullivan.

Democratic Sen. Scott Sifton of St. Louis County disagreed. He noted a petition signed by hundreds of thousands of people referenced Nov. 6 as the election date.

"This resolution pretty much puts the will of 33 people over the will of 300,000," he said.

Opponents also have argued another motivation for the change was to try to take advantage of lower voter turnout. August turnout in 2012, 2014 and 2016 was less than what it was in November, according to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office.

Senate Republicans overcame an all-night Democratic filibuster to approve on a 23-7 vote, a resolution early Friday morning moving up the vote on the repeal of right-to-work law.

Lawmakers have until Friday to give final approval to legislation.

Missouri Republicans have wanted to pass right-to-work legislation for years, but were hampered by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, who would not sign it. It was a significant priority for Republican Gov. Eric Greitens as he ran for office and it moved quickly through the legislature to his desk in 2017.

Debate Friday was heated and followed the same lines as in previous years.

In the House, Republicans argued making Missouri a right-to-work state would not prevent people from joining unions but would help prevent union corruption in industries currently requiring union membership. They called it a workers' freedom issue.

"If they don't want to join the union, they shouldn't have to join the union," said Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, Republican of Jackson.

Democrats responded that banning mandatory fees could cripple workers' ability to fight for better wages.

"This is about taking worker's voices away," said Democratic Rep. Doug Beck of St. Louis.

The resolution is SCR 40. The constitutional amendment is HJR 79.