Here is your Missouri Labor Weekly Update!
The Biggest Thing Going:
Labor Wins BIG in Local Elections
The Missouri AFL-CIO’s Carson Pope knocks doors for St. Joseph School Board candidate LaTonya Williams, who won a very tough reelection campaign Tuesday night.
Missouri labor racked up wins all across the State in Tuesday’s municipal elections. From St. Joe, to Springfield, to Columbia, all through St. Charles, to Rockwood, Mehlville, and Jefferson County; union-backed candidates won important races for School Boards and City Councils. 84% of union-backed candidates and issues won their elections Tuesday night. Again, 84% OF UNION-BACKED CANDIDATES and ISSUES WON THEIR ELECTIONS.
The success showed the power of turning out union voters, particularly in low-turnout local elections. THANK YOU to every union member across Missouri who ran for office, knocked on a door, made a call or even just showed up to vote for union-endorsed candidates!
IBEW Local 1 members knock doors for their union brother Tommy George Jr who won his election to the Ft. Zumwalt School Board on TuesdayLabor Buzz: What You Need to Know
Nationally
In a major victory for Railroad Unions President Biden announced a new rule to increase railroad safety. The rule will require a two-person crew on all large freight trains, which will help ensure the trains can be operated safely. Having a national rule will provide consistency across the country; rather than the piecemeal approach, where lobbyists from the railroads have been trying to pressure states to allow them trade safety for profits by cutting the number of workers operating trains that can be up to 3 miles long.
SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson praised the new administrative rule saying “this decision by President Biden’s administration is historic for SMART-TD members and all rail labor. Today’s ruling codifying the two-person freight crew not only demonstrates this administration’s dedication to the safety of this country and our workforce, but it also shows their respect and acknowledgment of our men and women and the work they do.”
Noted train enthusiast Joe Biden, currently serving as President, listened to union workers and made an important decision to promote railway safety.Missouri
It was a rough week in the Missouri House. SB 727 which expands Vouchers and Charters, cleared a House committee to advance in the process. As if their efforts to send public tax dollars to private schools wasn’t bad enough, Republicans- on a nearly party-line vote- then turned around and blocked Democratic efforts to raise starting teacher pay to 40,000 per year.
The House also moved forward two proposals to make it more difficult for voters to express their preferences at the ballot box. SJR 74, the Senate version previously covered, moved out of the House Elections Committee. The House added back in “ballot candy” which Senate Republicans had agreed to take out after a Democratic filibuster. This means the legislation will have to go back to the House if it’s passed off the House floor. The House also passed its own version of “reform”, HJR 86, that would increase the signature qualification threshold to ALL right congressional districts, and require voter approval in a majority of congressional districts.
In Solidarity,
Stephen Webber
Missouri AFL-CIO, Communications Director
