Union fees rule remains on hold

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Unions hoping to collect fees from some nonunion state workers will have to wait at least a few more months.

Gov. Bob Holden and the Republican-led legislature have been fighting over the issue for three years, and the battle appears likely to drag into at least fall.

Holden wants to let unions collect fees from nonunion state employees who are represented by the unions.

Republicans say an administrative rule to accomplish that violates a state law against withholding money from employee paychecks without their consent. Democrats argue the workers essentially gave their consent when they took the job, because their unit already voted to bargain.

Such rules go through a legislative review before they can take effect.

The Republican-led Legislature moved to block the rule in February, but Holden, a Democrat, vetoed the measure. Legislators did not try to override the veto during the legislative session that ended last week.

But House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, now says the House may try during its traditional veto session in September -- meaning the rule remains on hold.

Republican Secretary of State Matt Blunt, who must publish the rule as the final step of the process for it to take effect, is waiting for legislators to act. It's unclear when legislators' time to act runs out. The governor's office did not return calls Thursday to say whether it will challenge the delay.

Regardless, Blunt has said he believes the rule is illegal and does not plan to publish it when it reaches his desk.

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Union fee resolution is HCR5.

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us