Right to work constitutional amendment heard in committee

SJR 40, sponsored by Sen. Caleb Rowden (R- Boone and Cooper Counties), would ask Missouri voters to allow a person to work without having to join a union. The constitutional amendment would be presented to voters in the November, 2018, general election according to the constitution unless the governor put the issue on the ballot in a special election before then.

The right to work issue will already be presented to voters as unions gathered and presented sufficient signatures to place a bill passed last year with the same language before voters in November 2018.

If approved, the current ballot initiative would be a statutory change that could be amended by the legislature. SJR 40 would place the provisions in the Constitution, requiring a vote of the people to change its provisions.

Associated Industries of Missouri supports enacting a right to work law because of the economic development benefits it would provide as some companies will only locate their new facilities and expand existing ones in right to work states.