Missouri court rules in favor of Right to Work opponents

On Friday, July 28, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District delivered yet another victory for critics of Right to Work. A previous ruling found the summary language of an ongoing referendum petition was misleading voters, stalling critic’s efforts to repeal a current bill. The new ruling, however, will allow the language to carry on in its initial form.

Following the passage of Right to Work legislation in February, unions and labor groups have employed a seldom-used tactic: the referendum petition.

The petition may reverse Gov. Eric Greiten’s bill as it could go back onto the ballots in November 2018, ultimately giving Missouri citizens the final say.

Launched in April, the referendum petition could revoke the latest Right to Work bill should anti-Right to Work parties obtain roughly 90,000 signatures by the end of August. Proponents quickly launched a Right to Work support campaign, taking every opportunity to halt the petition. The two groups entered court in June where a judge found the language vague, possibly misleading to voters. This move halted the petition effort and gave labor supporters less time to collect signatures.

“Pro-Right to Work citizens and politicians have played dirty from the get-go,” said Richard Dalton, business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18 in nearby Ohio. “Now that the bill’s opponents have been cleared in the courts, it’s time to make their voices heard.”

Delaying the bill for summary language is one of many tactics pro-Right to Work Missourians have used against their opponents. However, some are beginning to take alternate approaches amidst their ongoing effort to paint union representatives as the bad guys.

An ongoing campaign saying “Right to Work helps when ‘no, thank you’ won’t” has recently come under fire for misleading voters.

Missouri has been home to a Right to Work battle for several years. Following the Republican sweep in 2016’s general election, supporters of the legislation finally achieved majority to pass a bill. Since then critics have fought tooth and nail to reverse the decision.

Right to Work has caused controversy across the nation in the wake of the 2016 election. The legislation aims to make union membership and dues payment optional, which would allow non-paying, non-member workers to still receive representation from their industry’s union. Under the guise of improving job growth and worker pay, the legislation cripples union groups from lack of financial support, allowing predatory business practices that ultimately see stumbling growth and lower wages.

“This legislation is bad for workers and business,” said Dalton. “This is another step in overcoming the misinformation and making voters’ voices heard.”

For more information on Right to Work in Ohio, visit: http://protectohiosmiddleclass.org