Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Missouri legislature and an incoming GOP governor, are hopeful that Right-to-Work legislation will pass in 2017. Outgoing state Representative Keith English (I-Florissant) is not confident it will pass.

Representative Keith English (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Keith English (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

“I’m not sure that we’ll see that the first year. I know Humphreys is interested in trying to get that passed. The Republicans work very hard on getting rid of the moderates or the pro-labor Republicans. Sheila Solon of Blue Springs lost her race. Nick King out of Independence, Missouri lost his race to Humphrey supporters. You know, they are very interested in getting a lot of these anti-labor bills passed such as Right-to-Work,” says English.

Joplin Republican mega donor David Humphreys supports right to work laws, which would prohibit unions from requiring workers to pay dues or join a labor organization as a condition for employment.

State Representative Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston) tells Missourinet that she will pre-file Right-to-Work legislation on Thursday. December 1 is the opening day for state legislators to begin pre-filing bills for next session.

English says other anti-union issues could return in 2017, like a measure that supporters call “paycheck protection and opponents call “paycheck deception”. The legislation would require employees to provide annual written approval for union dues to be withdrawn from their pay.

English was defeated in November’s general election by Democrat Jay Mosley.