JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.—State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) has introduced a bill that would place an
amendment to the state constitution banning the union shop on the ballot in November’s general election. If both houses of the legislature approve it, the amendment would compete with Proposition A, the union-backed initiative to repeal Missouri’s 2017 “right to work” law. Rowden told a Senate committee Mar. 29 that banning the union shop would actually increase union membership, because it would give the state economy “a shot in the arm.” “We worked pretty hard to get this on the ballot, and that is a concern to all of our members,” Kevin King, business administrator for Roofers Local 20 in Kansas City, told the Jefferson City News Tribune. He was one of several hundred union members and supporters who rallied outside the state capitol before the hearing. “You can’t be a populist and support ‘right to work for less,’” Sen. Claire McCaskill told the crowd. The legislature’s Republican majority is also considering moving the vote on Proposition A to the Aug. 7 primary election, when turnout would be lower. Read more
