JEFFERSON CITY • Senate lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to their chamber’s “right-to-work” bill, sending the legislation to the House without approving any proposed changes from opponents who worry the policy is anti-worker.
The bill has been fast-tracked by GOP supermajorities eager to get it to Gov. Eric Greitens’ desk, saying that it will create jobs and bring more business to the state. House lawmakers already have passed their own version of the bill.
Both the House and Senate versions prohibit labor contracts that require all workers who benefit from union representation to pay union dues. The main difference between them is a grandfather clause in the Senate’s version, which would protect any union contracts negotiated before the law would go into effect in August, letting them expire on their own.
In the three days of debate before the final vote, Democrats and Republicans in labor-friendly districts tried to attach amendments to quell concerns, including some to lessen civil and criminal penalties laid out in the bill, but all were easily defeated.
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In one final stand before the final 21-12 vote, those lawmakers lamented the urgency to slam the bill through without compromising on any proposed changes.
“I don’t understand the rigidity,” said Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City.
Right to work’s passage in Missouri has largely been considered inevitable, with Greitens, a Republican, pledging on the campaign trail to sign the bill. When he does, it will be an early political victory for the first-time officeholder.
Republicans said the issue already has been thoroughly vetted, both this session and in years past, when both chambers passed a bill but it was vetoed by former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat.
Holsman said that by showing no willingness to compromise, Republicans should expect more filibusters from Democrats .
Sen. Ryan Silvey, a Kansas City Republican who has been a vocal opponent of right to work, said he also wished the bill could have been amended further.
“There were a number of things that would not have derailed this bill,” Silvey said. “(The Senate) used to be a place where you could truly tweak things and fine-tune them.”
A few more steps are needed before a proposal can be sent to Greitens. Each chamber has passed their own version of the bill. The Senate could take up the House’s bill, or vice versa.
