The conservative case against picking on unions, from Missouri Republicans

By LYDIA DePILLIS

Three weeks ago, as a sexting scandal overtook the Missouri House of Representatives, state legislators voted on one of the more contentious bills that had come before them this year: A right-to-work (RTW) law that would prevent unions from collecting fees from workers they represent but who don’t want to join the union or pay for its services.

Such measures have been sweeping the Midwest, with Wisconsin recently becoming the 25th RTW state.

The vote was chaotic, with Republicans breaking age-old protocols to end a Democratic filibuster as the end of the session approached.

The bill passed, but not by enough to sustain an expected veto by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, which means the unions averted another setback. The deciding votes: A bloc of 24 Republicans who bucked their party’s leadership to vote against making Missouri right-to-work.

That’s rare, and a consequence of Missouri’s political geography at the moment, with moderate Republicans being elected in fast-growing exurban counties that might be socially conservative but whose residents are still largely members of trade unions. Places, for example, like Jefferson County, home to three members of the anti-right-to-work GOP contingent.

“They’re playing to their constituents. They want to get reelected,” says Dave Robertson, a political science professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

UNIONS MADE THEMSELVES HEARD

It’s certainly true that unions made themselves heard in those districts.

State Rep. Kathie Conway (R- St. Charles County) said she didn’t have strong feelings about right-to-work laws, but made up her mind after detecting strong pro-union sentiment even among her conservative electorate.

“As I talk with people in our district, a lot of the union members agree with GOP on issues of the second amendment, taxes, and right to life – but this was a dividing issue for them,” Conway said. “They might be with you on lots of other issues, but if you try and mess with their livelihood, they would not be with you.”

But Republicans had affirmative reasons why they voted the way they did as well. Their case against right-to-work laws had three main points.

UNIONS ATTRACT EMPLOYERS

First: Unions can actually attract employers, because they provide the trained workforce that corporate leaders need to do business.

“The number one thing that Missouri is missing, that businesses are looking for, is workforce development,” said Rep. John McCaherty (R-High Ridge) during floor debate, citing a poll by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. “They were looking for trained individuals. You know what they’re looking for training in? Construction. Machinists. Welders. Our unions are training people to do those jobs. So our answer to that poll is to do away with the people who are doing that work? That’s confusing to me.”

Although it’s declined over the years, Missouri still has a substantial auto manufacturing industry, as well as electricians, pipefitters, carpenters, and other trades with robust training programs.

INTERFERING WITH CHOICE

The second argument the Republican lawmakers made has to do with meddling in other peoples’ choices. There are plenty of non-union shops to work for if you’d rather avoid unions, says Rep. Shane Roden (R-Cedar Hill) and nobody’s forcing union members to stick with the representation they have.

“Any of these organizations, if they feel necessary to go from a closed shop to an open shop, the members can always vote to open that shop up,” says Roden. “That’s up to them. As a conservative, I don’t think we need to be basically sticking our noses into private individuals’ business. It’s a contractual agreement between employer and employee.”

A DISTRACTION

Finally, conservatives argued that debates over right-to-work legislation – as contentious as they are – are a distraction from issues that really need attention, like taxes, education, and infrastructure.

“We have more problems in this state that need more attention than this by far,” said Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters), a former firefighter, during the floor debate. “How about we protect the jobs we already have, Instead of trying to get rid of them? How about we try to build our economy? Let’s go back 10, 15 years ago. Small businesses booming, I didn’t hear about the right-to-work issue in this state. Why? Because there was enough to go around.”

And besides, Hicks pointed out, it’s not like unions are a huge threat these days, since they represent only 8.5 percent of the population in Missouri. “Come on. Why are we picking on them?” he asked. “Who’s the bully now?”

FIGHT IS STILL ON

The right-to-work bill is by no means dead in Missouri, with a confluence of increasingly powerful Republicans from rural areas and outside groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council and National Right to Work Committee helping to push it forward.

And if a Republican ever wins the Governor’s mansion, as is the case in many states with increasingly conservative legislatures, the battle is likely lost.

But for now, in Missouri, the conservative case against right-to-work laws has allowed the unions to fight another day.

(Lydia DePillis is a reporter focusing on labor, business, and housing. She previously worked at The New Republic and the Washington City Paper. Reprinted from the Washington Post. Edited for the Labor Tribune.)