The Top Priority in the Missouri State Legislature? Lowering Your Wages

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscme.org/blog/the-top-priority-in-the-missouri-state-legislature-lowering-your-wages


BY OLIVIA SANDBOTHE | FEBRUARY 06, 2014


Union-busting laws are promoted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a big business front group.


Imagine that you’re a powerful politician in a state with 6 million citizens, 800,000 of whom are uninsured, facing major funding shortfalls for education and infrastructure. Quick, what would you do first?

If you’re Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones, you start by attacking workers’ rights.

The very first bill to receive a hearing in this year’s legislative session in Jefferson City was HB 1099, a so-called “right-to-work” measure aimed at undermining unions. It’s just one of many union-busting bills on the calendar this year. Among the others are “paycheck deception” laws that do nothing but create red tape for union members, and a bill that would eliminate the prevailing wage laws that require decent pay for construction workers on state projects.

Missouri legislators tried – and failed – to put all of these laws on the books in the past. But the front-and-center treatment suggests the speaker is making the anti-worker agenda his top priority this year.

FULL story at link.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t

-Laelth