HJR 37 -- RIGHT TO VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT

SPONSOR:  Cunningham

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Workforce Development and Workplace Safety by a vote 7 of 5.

Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment
guarantees the right to vote by secret ballot for all public
offices, initiatives and referendums, and any authorizations or
designations regarding employee representation.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the right to vote by secret
ballot is the cornerstone of American democracy.  States have the
right to constitutionally address any matter not addressed in the
United States Constitution.  Every worker should have the right
to join or leave a union and should not be coerced by the
employer or a union representative.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Cunningham and
Wilson (130); Missouri Retailers Association; Missouri Grocers'
Association; Glenn Schwarts, KNS Wire Products; National
Federation of Independent Business; Associated Builders and
Contractors, Heart of America Chapter; Missouri Chamber of
Commerce and Industry; Dan Shaul; Missouri Restaurant
Association; Independent Electric Contractors Association of
Greater St. Louis; Associated Industries of Missouri; Gina
Loudon; and Concerned Women for America of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the bill, if
approved, would be preempted by the Federal National Labor
Relations Act.  The Employee Free Choice Act, currently being
considered by Congress, does not eliminate the secret ballot
election process for choosing union representation.  The bill is
an attempt to fix what is not broken.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri AFL-CIO; United
Steelworkers District 11; Jim Kabell, Missouri - Kansas
Conference of Teamsters; Carpenters' District Council of Greater
St. Louis; Carpenters' District Council of Kansas City; Clark
Brown, Missouri/Kansas State Council, Service Employees'
International Union; Missouri Federation of Teachers and School
Related Personnel; Missouri State Labor Utility Conference; and
Missouri National Education Association.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am