Right to Work legislation is on its way out of its original committee in the House of Representatives.
Three separate bills dealing with a workers’ right to not join a union at a workplace received approval from the House Workforce Standards and Development Committee on Wednesday.
House Bill 116, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield), House Bill 569, sponsored by Rep. Bill Lant (R-Joplin), and House Bill 582, sponsored by Rep. Courtney Curtis (D-Berkeley) are all worded almost identically. They all say no worker can be forced to:
Become or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization.
Pay dues, fees, assessments or other charges to a labor organization.
Pay to any charity or third party any equivalent amount in lieu of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges required of a member of a labor organization.
The only difference between the three is that Rep. Curtis’ bill pertains only to the construction industry.
HBs 116 and 569 received passage from the committee by 9-3 votes…Curtis’ bill was voted out of committee 8-4.
Associated Industries of Missouri supported all three bills.
The legislation is now headed for the Select Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.