A House committee has approved a resolution questioning the legality of the agreement between the State and service unions to deduct union or so-called fairshare fees, even from workers who don’t want to pay. Representative Richard Byrd of Kirkwood sponsors the resolution. He says this issue has nothing to do with Governor Bob Holden’s executive order allowing many state workers to unionize – it’s a matter of following the law. He insists it is illegal to take fees from any state employees who doesn’t give up those fees voluntarily. The committee voted along party lines to send the resolution to the full House. House approval sends it to the Senate. The resolution must clear both the House and Senate and be sent to Governor Holden’s desk by early March. The Governor could, at that point, decide whether to veto it, which would set up a veto session for this legislation within the regular session of the General Assembly.
