© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hearing On Right-To-Work Bill Draws Hundreds To Mo. Capitol

Supporters and opponents of legislation that would make Missouri a right-to-work state crowded into a hearing room today at the State Capitol.

Marshall Griffin/St. Louis Public Radio /

House Bill 77 would forbid workers from being forced to join unions or pay union dues as a condition of employment.  Greg Hoberock, national chair of Associated Builders and Contractors, testified in favor of the measure.

“I think you need a balance," Hoberock said.  "I don’t think this bill excludes union membership -- I think it give the employee(s) the right to make their own choice to further (their) income and to have a job and to do what they want to do.”

Mike Lewis, Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri chapter of the AFL-CIO, spoke against the bill.  He says becoming a right-to-work state would allow “freeloaders” to enjoy union benefits without paying for them.

“It weakens unions, and it weakens (the) collective bargaining unit," Lewis said.  "It destroys the best job security protection that exists, a union contract -- meanwhile, it allows some workers to pay nothing and receive all the benefits paid for by union membership.”

The bill’s supporters say that becoming a right-to-work state would result in more companies moving to Missouri and creating new jobs.  The House Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety will vote on the bill at a later date.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.