Right-To-Work Law Suspended in Missouri

Right-To-Work Law Suspended in Missouri

Legal News, Uncategorized

New Missouri Law Suspended

Recently, a new law banning mandatory union fees, was suspended in Missouri.

Over a thousand people rallied at the Capital in Jefferson City, hoping to block the law and demanding it be put to a public vote. Dozens of boxes that held signed over 300,000 petitions were delivered to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Maura Browning, a spokeswoman for Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, said, “essentially, the rule is suspended now.”

Can the petition stop the law?

If enough of the petition signatures are valid, then it is in the hands of the voters.

A union member from the Ford assembly plant in Kansas City, Tamara Maxwell said, “We should be in charge of that, not one person just signing it away.”

Governor Eric Greitens presented right-to-work as a way to keep bringing jobs and business back to Missouri, by keeping the state competitive. It also gives workers a choice if they want to join a union. Governor Greitens signed the law back in February, with its official starting date to be August 28.

Republican Representative from Sikeston, Holly Rehder said, “We passed Right-to-Work to give workers a choice to join a union. Union bosses are afraid of giving workers the freedom to decide if a union is right for the worker and are intent on maintaining their power to force workers to unionize in Missouri.”

Those against the law said it would hurt labor organizations and could lead to lower wages.

The signatures will be sent to local election authorities, who have until November 1 to check and certify the signatures.

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Ashcroft’s office predicts that there will be enough signatures, forcing a public vote.

Another effort is being made to end the law, to adopt a constitutional amendment protecting workplace contracts requiring all employees to pay fees covering the costs of union representation.

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