St. Louis union workers mobilize against Proposition A, with goal of defeating 'right-to-work' again

ST. LOUIS • John Kahrhoff is a third-generation member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in St. Louis.

His grandfather was a union member; so was his father. Kahrhoff has followed in their footsteps for the past 35 years.

And just as his father did in 1978, Kahrhoff is fighting against efforts to make Missouri a “right-to-work” state.

This time, opposing “right to work” means voting no on Proposition A, a measure on the Aug. 7 statewide ballot.

“My father gave me the wonderful standard of living that he worked to provide for me,” Kahrhoff said. “It’s now my duty to protect that for my kids, so I can pass on this skilled trade, give back to the community, and maintain our living standards in Missouri.”

Kahrhoff was one of about 300 union officials, workers and supporters who attended a rally Saturday morning at the headquarters of Local 42 of the Laborers’ Union (LIUNA), at 301 South Ewing Avenue, to mobilize opposition to Proposition A.

Richard Trumka, president of the 12.5 million-member AFL-CIO, was the featured speaker at the rally. His message: “Right to work” means lower wages, fewer benefits and diminished workplace safety.

“Prop A is designed and intended to undermine our collective voice on every issue that is important to working people,” Trumka said. “We are not having any of it.”

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, who also spoke at the rally, said passage of Proposition A wouldn’t just hurt union workers.

“When your wages go, everyone’s wages go,” Stenger said. “We just cannot have that for our community.”

Then-Gov. Eric Greitens signed the business-backed bill last year, calling it a way to boost job creation in the state. Under the new law, workers could not be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or to pay dues to a labor union. But before the law went into effect, opponents collected 310,567 signatures on a petition calling for voters to weigh in on the measure. Lawmakers voted last month to put the referendum on the August ballot.

Kahrhoff said he thought people were starting to understand how detrimental Proposition A would be for Missourians.

“We can’t compete with the billionaires and their money, but what we do have is people willing to go door-to-door and educate Missouri voters on the devastating effects of ‘right-to-work’ laws,” Kahrhoff said.

Brandon Flinn, secretary-treasurer of Laborers’ Local 42, urged all workers to use the time left before the election to reach out to people and encourage them to vote against Proposition A.

Workers were also encouraged to go door-to-door and work phone banks to spread the word about voting against Proposition A.

“We need all hands on deck,” Flinn said. “This determines the future of our state.”

Overall, Kahrhoff said, the event went well. “I think people are finally getting it,” he said. “They’re finally starting to understand how devastating Prop A will be.”