Missouri elected leaders have made it clear that right-to-work legislation is a priority in the 2017 legislative session—Gov. Greitens pledged to sign the bill if it makes it to his desk, and Speaker Todd Richardson pledged to immediately move legislation to committee. And the Missouri House proved the pledges were serious by passing the bill, reported the Missouri Times.
The measure, House Bill 91, would not allow labor contracts to require all workers represented by a union to pay for the representation. As in the past, the legislation is contentious, but with most Republicans in support of it—and with Republicans controlling both chambers of the General Assembly as well as the governorship, it’s expected to become law.
For small business owners, this is good news. NFIB/MO supports right-to-work.
“Becoming a right-to-work state would immediately make us more competitive regionally and nationally,” NFIB/MO State Director Brad Jones said in a statement. “Employers look at a state’s right-to-work status when deciding where to locate or expand. Becoming a right-to-work state, and becoming more competitive, would create more opportunities for small, family businesses.
“Some people say right-to-work is anti-union, but that isn’t true. If you want to join a union, you’re free to join a union. What right-to-work means is that you don’t have to join a union in order to get a job and support your family. By the same token, right-to-work means you can’t be fired for joining a union.”
HB 91 now moves to the Senate for debate and vote.
