Nixon Kills Right-to-Work Bill

Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a right-to-work bill that would have made it illegal to require new workers to join unions, saying in his veto message that the proposal would  “take our state backward.” In addition to the ban on union-membership requirements, the measure would have prevented unions from collecting fees from non-members.

Neither measure passed the General Assembly with enough votes to override Nixon’s veto. In order to do so, proponents of right to work would need 17 more votes in the House and two more in the Senate.

The measure, Nixon said, would also “squeeze the middle-class, lower wages for Missouri families, and subject businesses to criminal and unlimited civil liability.” He also said the bill would expose employers to criminal prosecution and civil liability if they required labor- organization membership for new employees.