Missouri AFL-CIO tracking over 70 Labor-related bills
By SHERI GASSAWAY
Assistant Editor
Jefferson City – The Missouri AFL-CIO is closely monitoring a host of bills filed in the state legislature that would negatively impact Labor, one of which would enable counties to enact phony so-called “right-to-work” laws. This, even after Missouri voters overwhelming defeated so-called “right-to-work” in 2018.
The bill, filed by Sen. Jason Bean (R-Holcomb), would prohibit employers from requiring employees to become a member of a Labor Organization or pay dues as a condition of employment in counties which approve the measure. Counties would need to submit the question to voters, and if approved by a majority, the bill would become law.
PHONY ‘RIGHT-TO-WORK’
“Missouri voters were clear in 2018 when they defeated so-called “right-to-work” in 99 of Missouri’s 114 counties and the City of St. Louis,” said Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel. “Missourians rejected Proposition A by a better than two-to-one majority, 67.5 percent to 32.5 percent.”
UNEMPLOYMENT CUTS
Another bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City), would cut unemployment benefits based on the state’s unemployment rate. Currently, Missourians may receive up to 20 weeks of unemployment benefits.
Under the proposed measure, recipients would only be eligible for 20 weeks if the unemployment rate is higher than nine percent. If that rate is at or below 3.5 percent, Missourians would only receive eight weeks of unemployment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Missouri in November (the most recent figure) was at 3.2 percent. Republicans have been pushing to lower the number of weeks of unemployment since 2015 to no avail.
“We’ve got a great team in place in Jefferson City, and they do their best to make sure workers’ rights are protected,” Hummel said.
Overall, the Missouri AFL-CIO is tracking over 70 pre-filed bills in the Missouri legislature that could impact working families.
INITIATIVE PETITIONS
About 30 of those bills pertain to creating changes in the Missouri initiative petition process, making it harder for voters to have a voice. That’s the process voters used to overturn phony “right-to-work” and to approve Proposition B, raising the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Other topics of concern among the pre-filed bills, Hummel said, include a repeal of prevailing wage, charter school expansion and other modifications to unemployment benefits for workers.
How a bill becomes law in Missouri
Missouri’s legislative session starts in January and ends in May every year. This is when bills become laws in Missouri. The governor may convene the General Assembly in special session for a maximum of 60 calendar days at any time. In order for a bill to become a law in Missouri, it must take the following path:
1. Filing – Legislators introduce bills, which includes prefiling before session begins. Then bill are read for a first and a second time.
2. Committee – The bill is assigned to a committee. Some of the bills will be put on the schedule and then they will have a public hearing.
3. Sent to floor for debate – The bill is sent to the floor for a debate. This is also where filibusters can happen to stall a bill.
4. Sent to second chamber – The bill is sent to the second chamber where the same process as above continues. After it passes the second chamber, the bill is then read for a third time. If the House and Senate bills are different, a committee is appointed to reconcile the two different bills.
5. Final pass – The vote is truly agreed upon and passed by the Senate and the House.
6. Sent to the governor to be signed – The governor can either sign or veto the bill. If signed, the bill becomes law. If vetoed, the House and Senate can override the bill with a 2/3 vote.
(Information from PROMO Missouri)
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