Understanding the facts about so-called “right-to-work” laws is key to having productive discussions with your friends, families and neighbors about the need to repeal this anti-worker, anti-union law when it goes on the ballot next year.
The AFL-CIO is bringing its renowned Common Sense Economics (CSE) program to Missouri for a series of trainings with a focus on misguided, misnamed “right-to-work” (RTW) laws.
The CSE trainings, which are scheduled to last an hour, will highlight the origin and impact of RTW and its impact on ALL workers.
The St. Louis session will be Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. prior to the Labor Council delegate meeting. Everyone is invited.
Union members and working family volunteers collected 310,567 signatures on the Citizens’ Veto initiative this summer to place Missouri’s RTW law on the November 2018 ballot. One of the things that became clear during that process was that many people do not know what “right-to-work” is and how it chips away at the rights and freedoms of working people.
CSE is a training and education program, conducted by and for union members and allies, to create a better understanding about America’s economic rules and the ways they have been written to diminish the freedom and rights of working people.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” said Merri Berry, campaign/political director at the Missouri AFL-CIO and the state federation’s point person for CSE.
MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT ‘RTW’ IS
“During the petition drive, one of the most common things we heard from circulators was that people didn’t know about ‘right-to-work,’ or that once it was explained, they were opposed.
“These trainings will educate our activists and further prepare them to have conversations with their friends, families and neighbors over the next 13 months,” Berry said.
For decades, RTW laws have sought to keep workers divided and undermine their freedom to negotiate a fair return on their work.
Workers in RTW states make less money, are less likely to have employer-sponsored health care and a pension and are more likely to die on the job.
“If any local is looking to further members’ education on ‘right-to-work,’ this is a great opportunity. They will leave empowered and ready to make a difference,” she said.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training sessions in St. Louis, Jefferson City and Springfield are scheduled as follows:
• Oct. 16 – 4:45 p.m. at IBEW Local 453 hall, 2902 E. Division Street, Springfield, MO 65803. (Sponsored by the Springfield Central Labor Council)
• Oct. 17 – 5:30 p.m. at IBEW Local 1 hall, 5850 Elizabeth Street, St. Louis, MO 63310. (Sponsored by the St. Louis Labor Council)
• Oct. 18 – 7:30 p.m. at the Jefferson City Labor Temple, 209 Flora Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65101. (Sponsored by the Jefferson City Central Labor Council)
Participants can sign-up by visiting missouricse.com.
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Help defeat RTW: Donate to the ‘$8 for 8’ campaign
You can help defeat so-called “right-to-work” (for less) by donating to We Are Missouri’s $8 for 8 campaign to help to fund the public education campaign to defeat RTW at the ballot box.
Mail your check to:
We Are Missouri
227 Jefferson St.
Jefferson City, MO 65101
The “$8 for 8” campaign plays off the historic feat of union members and working family allies gathering 310,567 petition signatures (and counting) in ALL EIGHT of Missouri’s Congressional Districts and all 114 counties to put so-called “right-to-work” on the November 2018 ballot for voters to decide.
Join the fight by mailing a check to the address above or by visiting wearemo.org and clicking on the red “Donate” button in the upper right hand corner of the page.
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