


Under current law, someone who takes a job at a labor-represented company must pay the union for representation - even if the worker decides not to join the union. Under proposed legislation that has come up in the legislature through the years, unions no longer could require nonmembers to pay fees as a condition of employment.
The push for this measure - which is called "Right to Work" by proponents and "Open Shop" by opponents - came up for a statewide vote in 1978 and was defeated by a substantial margin. Bills regularly have been introduced but have failed to gain noticeable traction.
Proponents of the measure argue that rescinding such regulations would prompt Japanese car manufacturers to flock to the state. They also say that enacting the regulation puts the state on a better playing field with surrounding states - such as Oklahoma.
Opponents see such bills as a way to weaken unions’ financial bottom line. They also question whether "Right to Work" or "Open Shop" states see an economic boon.
Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, has introduced the legislation the past few sessions. The four-term lawmaker said he didn’t have a hearing on the bill because he thought his fellow lawmakers had no desire to push the measure through.
"We don’t have the will of either body to do anything," Hunter said. "I think we’re going to have to go to ground zero and melt down before they realize we need to do it."
Hunter said he would define "ground zero" as the state experiencing tremendous financial challenges. He noted that Michigan - a state with a sizable union population - is considering enacting the regulation in the midst of a severe economic downturn. "What forced the issue was for it to get bad enough economically that the states had to do something," he said.
Herb Johnson, the secretary-treasurer for the Missouri branch of the AFL-CIO, said "Right to Work" has little support in the legislature. "There’s just no support for it. There’s no support for it even in the Republican side of the General Assembly," he said.
Johnson said that because Hunter’s bill only has the support of roughly 30 or 40 lawmakers, he doesn’t expect anything to shift. He described Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin - who is slated to become speaker if the GOP maintains control - as a "sensible" individual who wouldn’t push for a fruitless cause that sparks animosity.
"It’s kind of a new beginning in politics for us in Missouri because of term limits," Johnson said. "If there’s anything good about term limits, it forced us to work with the Republican Party and Democratic Party. … We do work with numerous people in the Republican Party. A whole lot of them support of our core issues."
Hunter said that he agreed there would have to be a unified front among Republicans for the bill to stand a chance.
"Right now, our economy’s healthy enough that a lot of them don’t see the need," Hunter said.
"They don’t see down the road the benefits that it could bring to the state. And a lot of them quite frankly don’t have the guts to do anything unless they’re forced to."
(columbiatribune.com)