On Tuesday, April 18, 2017, the union hall of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #1 was the site of a comprehensive training program designed to challenge the passage of the Right to Work legislation in Missouri. Both union and non-union participants attended. Hosted by Pat White, President of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council AFL-CIO, the training was conducted by Ryan Burke and Sara S. from Field Works. Field Works is a group that conducts ”grassroots organizing and field management using paid and volunteer campaign workers for electoral campaigns and ballot initiatives.”
Participants from across the St. Louis Metropolitan area filled the IBEW auditorium to learn how to successfully obtain valid and verifiable signatures from Missouri voters. A Petition Referendum, designed to override the recent Right To Work legislation signed into law by Governor Greitens that is scheduled to go into effect on August 28, 2017, was planned. The Union’s goal is to have the necessary valid and verified signatures of Missouri voters to the Secretary of State well before that date. It is anticipated that the Republican-controlled state government will delay and thwart the Petition Referendum, and there must be adequate time to counter any attacks on the petitions. With certification of the Petition Referendum, the law will be delayed until a plebiscite in November of 2018, when the will of the people is made clear.
The training consisted of participants becoming familiar with the petition form, learning how to obtain signatures that are valid and verifiable, and instructions for submitting the completed petition forms in a timely fashion.
If you would like to participate in training for this referendum, you can locate the training schedule go to MOAFLCIO.org to find a date that works for you. You do not need to be a union member and your support and work will be welcome.
If you are willing to sign a petition, Michael Pfeifer and Mark Kumming will be hosting a signing station at the West County Democrats meeting in May and probably again in June. The two most important thing in signing a petition, according to the trainers, is “legibility of handwriting and signing a petition from the same county in which you are registered to vote.”
Right To Work has a history in several other states. Here are some statistics about working and living in those states since RTW was enacted in them:
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Workers in RTW states earn 12.1% less than workers in non-RTW states;
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The rate of workplace deaths is 49% higher in RTW states;
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States with RTW laws spend 32.5% less per pupil on education.
The term “Right To Work” is an example of the deceptive wording and labeling used by the right wing. “Right To Work” was a much more appealing title than “Race To The Bottom For Wages” or “Worker Gifts To Corporate Profits.” Either of these titles is a more apt and truthful name than “Right To Work.” “Right To Work” takes away individual rights and devalues work. Please do all you can to keep Missouri a state with strong support for organized labor and fair treatment for workers and their families.
Sign a petition!
Co-Submitted by Mike Pfeiffer and Mark Kumming, WCD Members
I hope we can get signatures from everyone in West County Democrats. See you at the next meeting!