This clip is so awesome! Dr. Margarat Rozga speaks truth to power as anti-union Governor Scott Walker sits by at the Martin Luther King celebration in Madison, WI. In addition to accepting the King award, she dumps the truth right on top of Walker's head. That's what he gets for attempting to be a drive by "photo-op do-gooder." The truth is the 1% and the politicians they buy have tried to paint Dr. King as a nice man who had a dream. Dr. Rozga reminds them that Dr. King was serious about social change and justice, including a strong belief in the importance of labor unions.
It's doubtful the real numbers on the effect of Right to Work would change Rep. Burlison's mind, it might be Susan be fun to try...
By Jonathan Shorman | 2:47 AM, Jan. 6, 2013 Springfield News Leader
Long-term economic growth and the threat of competition from other states is on the minds of most area legislators as they prepare to start the new legislative session on Wednesday.
The delegation for Greene and Christian counties includes two senators and 11 representatives. With the exception of Springfield representative Charlie Norr, a Democrat, the members are Republican. Rep. Sonya Anderson, representing some areas of north Springfield and rural Greene County, is the only woman.
Several lawmakers interviewed by the News-Leader expressed support for so-called Right to Work laws. The laws typically state that unionized workers cannot be forced to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. Unions oppose such measures because Right to Work laws allow workers to benefit from unions — such as when the union acts as the worker’s bargaining agent — but exempt workers from having to contribute back to the union. With the exception of Illinois, Missouri is bordered by Right to Work states.
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, is sponsoring Right to Work legislation. He said the concept is not popular in Kansas City and St. Louis but has support in southwest Missouri.
“I think the reality of the job climate in Right to Work states vs. non-Right to Work states, it’s difficult to argue against the numbers,” Burlison said.
Whether Right to Work gains traction remains to be seen. House Speaker Tim Jones has indicated such a law may not move during the session because it would not have the support of Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. Rep. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said Right to Work will probably not be considered in the House unless a bill is passed by the Senate.
In the absence of Right to Work, another union-related measure has some members interested.
“I think we’re probably going to have to go with what I call Right to Work lite: which is Paycheck Protection,” Rep. Kevin Austin, R-Springfield, said.
Burlison has also sponsored Paycheck Protection legislation, which prohibits unions from using dues for political purposes without permission from workers. While the chances of passing union-related legislation during the session appear murky, almost all members seem driven to pass tax credit reform. Gov. Nixon has called for reform as well.
Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, and Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, want the legislature to consider benevolent tax credits and economic development tax credits separately.
Many benevolent tax credits expired in August after the legislature failed to renew them during the previous session, a casualty to a battle over more general reform. Among the credits that expired is the Children in Crisis credit, which makes donations to organizations such as Isabel’s House or the Child Advocacy Center tax-deductible.
The benevolent credits are generally not considered controversial and members expect they will be renewed.
But while members agree on the need to reform the economic development tax credits, many were unwilling to offer specific changes they would like to see.
Broadly, Reps. Austin and Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, said they were in favor of capping the total amount of some credits. Haahr wants to go a step further.
“I think sunsetted tax credits could be extremely beneficial to the state,” Haahr said.
Rep. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, warned against vilifying tax credits and said a balance is needed. He said it is naive for newly elected members to claim they know the best approach to the issue.
“We’ve got to be cognizant of the good they can do,” Hough said.
The media hasn't mentioned it much, but 79.000 low wage workers getting a New Year's raise is a big deal, both for the workers and for the Missouri economy. Thanks to Jobs with Justice for working with labor to get it passed by a vote of the people in 2004. Lara is right, congress should index the federal minimum wage.
New year will bring higher minimum wages in 10 states
January 01, 2013 12:00 am • by Lara Granich
St. Louis Post Dispatch
WASHINGTON — Nearly 1 million U.S. workers will be getting a New Year’s Day gift: a small raise after 10 states boost their minimum wages.
While stagnant wages and sluggish job growth continue to cloud the post-recession recovery, a bright spot exists on the horizon in Missouri: 79,000 of the state’s lowest-paid workers will be getting a raise today, as the state’s minimum wage increases by 10 cents to $7.35. Thanks to a ballot initiative passed by Missouri voters in 2006, the state’s minimum wage automatically adjusts every year to keep pace with the rising cost of living. This key policy reform, known as “indexing,” has already been adopted by nine other states. As a result, the wages paid to those Missourians who wake up each morning to do the hard work of cleaning office buildings, serving food and providing care for the elderly will not gradually erode each year as the cost of basic expenses like food, gasoline and utilities continues to rise.
As the country continues to debate how best to create jobs and accelerate the economic recovery, our elected officials in Washington could learn from the example that Missouri has set in addressing the urgent problems of America’s low-wage economy. After more than three years since the official end of the Great Recession, average wages are still declining in real terms, even as workers throughout the U.S. put in longer hours to help make ends meet. As a result, workers with less disposable income are holding back on spending, depriving local businesses of the sales revenue they need to expand their operations. In a country where consumer spending makes up 70 percent of the total economy, stagnant wages spell limited growth and a continued weak recovery.
By contrast, the modestly higher wages received by low-paid workers in Missouri this year will go right back into the economy, generating economic growth as these workers put food on their tables and raise their families. According to an analysis from the nonpartisan Economy Policy Institute, Missouri’s minimum wage increase this year will boost the average directly affected worker’s pay by $190 per year, generating over $8 million in new consumer spending.
While the value of higher wages for Missouri’s low-paid workers remains clear, those who oppose any increase in the minimum wage still claim that higher wages will only slow job growth or burden local businesses. These concerns find no support from the facts: Indeed, businesses that pay fair wages to their employees ultimately benefit from reduced turnover and higher worker productivity, as their employees are spared from the struggle of balancing two jobs in order to make ends meet.
In fact, the real strain on economic growth in today’s economy stems from the decision made by many national fast food chains and big box retailers to inflate their profits by paying rock-bottom wages, siphoning money out of local communities and impoverishing the customer base needed to sustain economic growth.
And yet, while this year’s 10-cent minimum wage increase will mean a lot to workers that are struggling just to get by, the truth is that Missouri’s minimum wage remains well below the level needed to ensure that full-time work provides a path out of poverty. Contrary to myth, over 60 percent of workers benefiting from Missouri’s minimum wage increase on Jan. 1 are adults older than 20. Seventy percent of these workers are employed more than 20 hours per week, and over 44 percent have at least some college education. When large numbers of skilled adult workers find themselves relying on the minimum wage to make ends meet, then a national response is required in order to preserve the American dream of upward economic mobility.
Congress has only acted three times in the last 30 years to raise the federal minimum wage. It’s time for a new level of leadership. It’s time for Congress to learn from Missouri’s example by raising and indexing the minimum wage. Lara Granich is director of Missouri Jobs with Justice.
The anti-labor forces in Missouri claim to be against big, intrusive government. So they plan to have the goverment ban workers from choosing to have their union dues paid through payroll deduction (United Way and anyone else will still be free to use payroll deduction).
And they think unions should be forced by the government to represent workers who don't pay dues.
And government will ban agreements between contractors and building trades unions on how construction projects will be completed.
One thing is certain - these guys will continue to talk about "local control" and the evils of big government while they try to use state government to force everyone to do as they believe.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced its
“aggressive list of legislative priorities’’ for the coming legislative
session -- which include measures to cut business income taxes and to
curb union rights.
The chamber says it also plans to continue its efforts to change the
state’s workers compensation system so that it once again deals with
occupational diseases, which now are handled separately in the courts.
And the chamber will lobby legislators to try once again to repair the
state’s underfunded Second Injury Fund, set up to cover workers and
military veterans who have pre-existing injuries.
The chamber's expansive wish-list was unveiled Wednesday, with its
leaders saying the aim is "to hold legislators accountable this session
for their campaign promises to support Missouri jobs..."
The state of Missouri already is phasing out the longstanding business
"franchise tax" that as of 2010 brought in almost $90 million a year in
state tax income.
The chamber now supports Republican proposals that call for cutting or eliminating all Missouri income taxes on businesses. Missouri now collects just over $340 million a year in business income taxes.
Backers say getting rid of the taxes would attract more businesses and
jobs to the state; opponents say the cuts will exacerbate state
government's existing financial problems.
Call for emulating Indiana, Missouri on labor curbs
Regarding labor, the state chamber contends that Missouri needs to join
the ranks of Indiana and Michigan, which recently passed “right to
work’’ laws that bar unions and employers from requiring all workers to
pay union dues if a majority vote to organize.
The chamber contends that Indiana has become more attractive to
business since its Republican-controlled legislature (and then-Gov.
Mitch Daniels) took such action in 2011; Michigan followed suit a few
weeks ago.
Dan Mehan
“This issue is framed as ‘business v. labor,’ but that is not the
case,” said Chamber chief executive Dan Mehan said. “Frankly, it is an
issue between labor and employees. Bottom line, employees should be
given the opportunity to choose whether or not they want to be part of a
union. Right to Work gives them that right.”
Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has declared he will veto any “right to
work’’ legislation approved by the Republican-controlled General
Assembly. The state chamber is hoping that the large veto-proof GOP
majorities in both chambers will be enough to override the governor.
The chamber said it also is promoting three other measures targeting unions:
The so-called “Paycheck Protection” proposal, which would bar payroll deduction of union dues.
A proposal to eliminate project labor agreements, also known as PLAs,
in which contractors agree to use only union workers on public
projects. “Project labor agreements stifle free trade and increases
costs unnecessarily,” Mehan said.
Proposed elimination of the state’s “prevailing wage laws” that
require that the standard wage for a particular job be applied to public
projects. The chamber says the mandate increases costs for taxpayers.
Will Missouri pass a Right To Work law this year? Stephen
Herzog, Branson Tri-Lakes News reporter, thinks it’s a possibility.
Here’s the story:
“We’ve been after the right to work in the state of
Missouri for a while,” Rowland said. “I think we have an opportunity
this year to get it done.”
Proposed “right-to-work” legislation aims to prohibit labor union
agreements that require employee membership and payment of union dues.
Proponents of such legislation in the state have argued it will make
Missouri competitive with bordering states that already have
right-to-work laws.
“The rumor I’m hearing is we’re going to allow the Senate to make the
first move,” Rowland said. “The past two years we’ve had trouble
getting anything through the Senate. We’re hoping the election has
changed that.”
The minimum amount for a supermajority is 109. The Senate already held a supermajority, which it retained.
However, just because the total number of Republicans allows for a
“veto-proof” majority, that doesn’t mean they’ll be able to pass
whatever legislation they want, according to local representatives.
“Right now, we would need 100 percent of members to agree on something,” Rowland said. “That’s very difficult.”
“A lot of the freshmen talked about the veto-proof majority,” Justus said. “But we’re not always going to agree on everything.
“We’re probably going to go after some legislation to help business that the governor has vetoed in the past,” Rowland said.
