Missouri Voters Back Unions by Rejecting Right-to-Work Law

Missouri voters handed the organized labor movement a win Tuesday evening by rejecting the state’s proposed right-to-work law. Tuesday’s referendum gave voters the chance to strike down a law the state legislature passed last year that would prohibit employees from being forced to join a union or pay “fair share” fees to a given workplace’s union. By prohibiting the requirement for employees to join a union or pay fees, these laws are believed to weaken labor organizations. “We are hopeful that the outcome of today’s election will put an end to attacks on Missouri’s working families and give our state a fresh start at working together to help and support all Missourians,” said the We Are Missouri coalition, comprising labor unions and affiliated organizations. “In every corner of the state, voters rebuked the efforts of powerful, out-of-state corporate interests and dark money to control the future of Missouri’s economy.” Dan Mehan, executive director of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said union spending won the vote. “It was a deluge of money coming in from out of state that helped them get to $20 million to buy the election,” Mehan said. “We just got blown out.”