To say it has been a big week for labor reform in Missouri is an understatement. On Monday, the governor signed Senate Bill 19 into law, officially making Missouri the 28th Right to Work state. This was years in the making, and I believe it will lead to great things for the Show-Me State and exciting opportunities for our citizens. That same day, my Senate colleagues and I began debating another important labor reform measure — Senate Bill 182, which will end the discriminatory and unfair practices of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs).
Missouri taxpayers deserve the best product for the best cost, but PLAs drive up the cost of construction by effectively ensuring that all work on a public project is completed by union contractors or non-union contractors who will yield to union demands. Project Labor Agreements place unreasonable terms and conditions to limit fair competition. They are not equitable to all contractors, and they are a detriment to the free market.
If signed into law, SB 182 will remove the current 50 percent state funding threshold for political subdivisions and labor agreements and prohibit bidders from entering into those types of agreements. It will also ensure all contractors get a chance to bid on a project. By eliminating union-only PLAs, we will open the door to private sector bidding on government construction projects and encourage more responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.
In other news, a considerable number of Missouri’s more than 200 public boards and commissions currently have vacancies that the governor is trying to fill. From managing our state’s universities to advocating on behalf of our children and seniors, the men and women who serve on these boards and commissions are essential to the myriad functions of state government.
Every one of us has the ability to serve our state in some capacity, but many people are unaware of what opportunities are out there. If you are interested in serving the State of Missouri on a board or commission, I encourage you to review the Missouri Boards and Commissions website at www.boards.mo.gov. You may also contact Josh Foster in my office for more details (573-522-7972 or josh.foster@senate.mo.gov).
26 comments:
Well, it looks like Richards has been busy. First busting union labor and now it seems he is trying to pass legislation limiting law suits monetary awards. Oh, wait, he got some good donations from Humphries who owns Tamko to do such things who also happens to be in multiple lawsuits for shoddy merchandise such as shingles. What more do the people of Missouri need to see about some of these crooked legislators. Maybe a few of them will see through the smoke and mirrors and vote these new laws down and protect the people screwed by bad companies. Tamko is indeed not a family centric company except for one family.
Ron "the bloviating jellyfish" Richards again tells lies. If the "union only" Project labor agreements were in fact union only, then how did the non-union shop at R.E.Smith get the job of building the $20 million dollar library in Joplin? Will any reporters be asking Smith's employees what their hourly rate is normally versus a public works project? Are ANY of his employees in a 401k which doesn't dissolve if the company does? How many have health insurance through their company? Ask any non-management employee on site if repealing this law heels them. If you think the legislators will stop when they have reduced the wages of the 10% of union Missouri employees, you're wrong. Repealing the law alone lowers nonunion employees wages. That giant sucking sound of the middle class leaving America is brought to you by the Republican legislators whose only loyalty is to business interests.
Previous posters need some passion to their prose.....
IBEW office is 3316 Hearne BlvdJoplin,would be happy to see if you can back up your mouth!
I am sure they probably showed up and found everyone was on a "mandatory" union break..the 5th of the day during an 8 hour shift.
Why all these 10 or 12 year old kids are allowed to be in school waisting time on reading and writing when they could be sorting trash or working in a jackleg underground mine...what is this country coming to?
@ 4:33
No, the little cowards didn't make it, just talk, can't walk the walk. Would you like to make an appointment? Feel free to come in and talk your smack or STFU.
I don't think much of the fat fool who got into polyticks in order to advance his bowling alley, but still, looking at the pure left-wing hate displayed on this blog tells me that things would be worse if the author of this blog were to be in a position of power.
Richards wants to take Missouri back to the days of indebted labor buying from the company store to feed their starving families. Project work completely by cheap, unqualified labor with no regard to public safety. Why not just do away with OSHA investigations following deaths as well? It's bad enough these politicians are failing to do their duty to their constituents, they are also receiving graft from business leaders such as David Humphreys to pay for their dereliction of duty. 50,000 people in Joplin, 1 David Humphreys....guess who matters to slimy Ron Richard?
Big labor zealots with bully instincts
@12:36 Typical union thug behavior, when debate fails grab a club. Jimmy Hoffa Sr. would be so proud. Thanks for reinforcing my point. Organized Crime!
Looks like the koch crowd sent a few kochroaches to infest the blog.
ALEC works as the tool of the billionaires.
@ 7:03 & 7:23
Typical cowardly, little, punk republican behavior. Talk tough, but when given the opportunity to prove it, just cower and scream bully. If unions were organized crime there would be proof. The only proof I see here is a teenage punk commenting about something he knows nothing about, and supports freeloaders. Posting two comments 20 minutes apart doesn't fool anyone, you are just one whiny troll.
Richards has lived a charmed life (lived off his dad). Probably has not done an honest days work in his life. A typical "privileged" Republican who lives in a "bubble". He does not represent his constituency - but the powers to be.
928 you need a sedative
@ 10:41
Admit it, you're David Humphreys and enjoy depriving others of a fair wage, health insurance, or a pension. If anyone questions your motives, instead of hiring Pinkerton agents to do your bidding because you are so cheap, you just bash unions without an ounce of fact or credibility. I find it hilarious when you pee your pants at the mention of the words, Union strong! Do you still require a medical exam prior to hiring to verify the prospect doesn't have a spine? Now that JPD is represented by the union, you might want to reconsider calling the Pinkertons when the hungry crowds of people beaten down by rat wages, decide to take what you have.
You union boys crack me up !! inviting violence, name calling, spreading fear and hate, if you don't get your way you resort to thug tactics, with all those great wages and benefits you make, one would think you might be more appreciative. Every time you post it reflects even more negativity and strengthens public disrespect for the unions.
@ 2:23
You are a complete moron. In the fourth post you state unions aka organized crime should be smacked around. Sounds to me like you're the one inviting violence. I just offered you a location to do it, which you declined. I'm very appreciative of retiring from the union with my home and vehicles paid off. I receive the best insurance available for my wife and myself and a cash pension on top of that. Money in the bank and my only worries are an electorate so ill informed and ignorant, such as yourself that vote for businesses and corporations to control their lives. What has your employer done for you, Huckleberry?
@6:24
This is 2:23, that was my first and only post. You just proved my point even more. I am sorry that you are such a bitter, unhappy, ungrateful individual. What a sad way to live in retirement.
@ 6:13
You are such a terrible liar. You are David Humphrey's little huckleberry. You want to slap unions around but lack the courage, so you just cry about how your world is so terrible because of unions. My question is are going to cry if this law is overturned in November after we present the Secretary of State the petition in August for a public vote? You shouldn't because people like Humphreys will always have a job for Huckleberries, be it under his desk or helping hm line his pockets. I love my retirement, owe nobody anything, and am free to cal
Bullshit where I see it. My grandkids spend time with us so they don't grow up to be cowardly yes men like yourself. Im sorry your parents weren't able to spend enough time with you, you might have grown a spine.
734 your dribble does nothing to help your case...such vitriol....chill out
@ "Concerned citizen"
Ha ha ha. Humphreys should really hire a more educated troll. I'm chill, just laughing at a troll that doesn't know the difference between dribble and drivel. If you had a brain, you could take it out and play with it!
Like small,not drivel...that is the basis of your writings,tiny wattage old boy.
@ Concerned citizen,
So let me get this right...Your (small) does nothing to help your case... Hahaha Humphrey's little fools...Who is the one unable to write more than two sentences? I'm so chill it snows when I sneeze. Now you write.,.. Tiny wattage old boy?!....you have the life and education of a mushroom, kept in the dark and feed bullcrap. Too bad you will be unable to reiterate a 58 as I did, you'll spend your whole, sad little life as Dave's dolt.
Problem is this was put to the voters many times for years and was voted down every time. So now what the voters want is not what the politicians want so they do it without a vote.
@Concerned citizen
Ok, I'll play, so you are saying...7:34 your small does nothing to help your case... Hahaha. Now you state tiny wattage old boy. You're incoherent, probably drunk, you need an education and counseling.
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