With summer winding down, many of us will begin turning our focus to the upcoming school year; however, I wanted to remind everyone of the upcoming primary election. This election presents many important choices for a number of our communities, but I want to take this opportunity and urge everyone to support Proposition A. I believe passing this ballot measure is essential to the growth of our state’s economy.
During the 2017 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly passed Senate Bill 19, a proposal that prohibits employers from requiring their employees to become a member of a labor organization as a condition of their employment. Despite the actions of lawmakers, labor organizations and others gathered and submitted thousands of signatures in an attempt to circumvent the General Assembly and put the issue to a statewide vote. While each of us have been bombarded with numerous commercials and mail pieces on this important issue, I believe it is crucial to our state’s economic growth that Missourians vote “yes “on Proposition A and make Missouri a Right-to-Work state.
Research indicates that most companies prefer to operate in a Right-to-Work state. In fact, if a company is planning to relocate, approximately 40 percent will not even consider a state that does not support Right-to-Work laws. Each of Missouri’s neighboring states except one are Right-to-Work states, which is why I believe it is important to take advantage of this opportunity and put our state on an even playing field with our neighbors when it comes to this important issue.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 23 states that implemented Right-to-Work laws as of 2012 saw their total number of manufacturing jobs grow by 272,000, or 5.5 percent, over the following five years. During that same time period, manufacturing jobs in the 22 non-Right-to-Work states only grew by 1.7 percent. In addition, data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor between 2003 and 2008 indicates that Right-to-Work states created jobs 2.5 times faster than states without Right-to-Work laws and also saw lower unemployment rates than non-Right-to-Work states.
I also believe Right-to-Work laws protect the rights of all hard-working Missourians. By becoming a Right-to-Work state, employees would have a sense of job security without the fear of being fired for choosing not to become full-fledged union members. Under the current structure, workers are required to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. By becoming a Right-to-Work state, workers will have the freedom to choose whether or not to join a union and not be forced to pay dues to an organization they do not support.
I believe this very issue could either propel our state’s economy forward, or it could set us back and keep good paying jobs from coming to Missouri. I encourage each of you to do your own research on this issue and not be swayed by the countless radio and television ads. As the primary election day nears, I believe the more informed you are on this topic, the more you will see why Right to Work is the right decision for the Show-Me State.
No where in your cookie cutter republican rhetoric does it mention that this lie helps wages. You are the same fools that will pay through the nose for your NRA membership. I have two pistols and I don't pay for a NRA membership, but I know that a union will help employees get better benefits and wages which your corporate owners don't want to pay for. That way they can make sure their upper management get big bonuses on the backs of their workers. You really are a bought and paid for piece.
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