Missouri to limit union rules in public
construction
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[May 31, 2017]
By Chris Kenning
(Reuters) - Missouri's non-union
contractors will no longer have to pay union wages on public projects
such as schools, libraries and police stations under a bill that
Governor Eric Greitens signed into law on Tuesday.
The measure bans cities and counties from requiring union working
conditions in bids for public projects partly funded by the state, using
what are known as "project labor agreements." The measure threatens
local governments that do so with the loss of state funding and tax
credits.
The Republican governor has argued such agreements decrease competition
and drive up costs to taxpayers. The measure is the latest rollback of
union-backed laws pursued this year by Missouri Republicans, who gained
control of the legislature and governor's mansion in 2016 for the first
time in eight years.
In February, Missouri joined more than two dozen other states when it
enacted "right-to-work" legislation, making it illegal to require
workers to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment.
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"Project Labor Agreements drive up the cost of construction and kill
jobs," Greitens said in a statement. "Our top priority is more jobs for
the people. We're eliminating this sweetheart deal for special
interests, protecting taxpayers, and creating more opportunity for all
workers in Missouri."
Under the previous system, union and non-union contractors both could
bid on public projects, but in cases where such agreements were used,
non-union contractors had been required to abide by collective
bargaining.
Officials with the AFL-CIO labor federation said such agreements
protected public investment with skilled contractors and kept projects
on schedule with fewer injuries or labor disputes.
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Missouri Governor Eric Greitens seen at an industrial site in this
undated photo from his social media site made available May 30,
2017. Office of the Missouri Governor/Handout via REUTERS
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Jake Hummel, secretary-treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO and a
Democratic state senator, said such agreements were used in only a
fraction of public projects.
"What the governor has done is taken that useful tool away from
local governments," he said.
At least 23 states including Nevada and West Virginia have enacted
similar restrictions, mostly since 2011, according to Jackson
Brainerd, policy associate with the National Conference of State
Legislatures. The Missouri legislature approved the bill in April.
(Reporting by Chris Kenning in Chicago; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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