With Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoing a bill Thursday that would have ended forced union dues, both sides are vowing to continue the fight anyways.
“We’ve been fighting this legislation for 5 years so you better believe we are ready for another three months,” local leaders of the United Food and Commercial Workers declared in a statement. “Right to work proponents may not have the votes to override now, but the millionaires and billionaires pushing this bill will spend the summer trying to change that.”
Missouri House Bill 116 was signed by House Speaker John Diehl and Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, both Republicans, in late May before being sent to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, who vetoed it. The policy, which has passed in 25 states, outlaws mandatory union dues or fees as a condition of employment.
“In the meantime, the UFCW will be working with our Republican and Democratic partners in the Legislature to sustain the veto,” the statement continued. “UFCW members will be reaching out directly to their friends and neighbors to let them know that Missouri cannot afford a future with right to work.”
While opponents, primarily on the left, claim strong unions and mandatory dues or fees is important to giving workers a voice and making the workplace fair, others argue workers should have a choice in the matter.
“Simply put, right to work would be a disaster for the hard-working families of our state and the UFCW will not rest until it is defeated once and for all,” the statement added.
Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee, who supported the measure also said he will continue the fight.
“Flanked by union bosses, Gov. Nixon ignored and rejected the will of an overwhelming majority of Missouri citizens who favor Right to Work, and the job creation and economic prosperity that come with Right to Work protections for employees,” Mix said in a statement to The Daily Caller News Foundation. “The National Right to Work Committee will continue to fight on behalf of every Missouri worker to end compulsory unionism once and for all.”
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