Nixon vetoes union bill

Gov. Jay Nixon yesterday vetoed a bill that sought to limit the political influence of unions by disallowing them to bargain collectively using portions of employee paychecks.

Senate Bill 29 would have prohibited unions from taking a portion of member paychecks without written consent for the purpose of funding political candidates and campaigns.

In his veto message, Nixon said the bill would have added an unnecessary restriction.

He said under state law, employes already may elect whether their union dues are withheld. With the addition of SB 29, these employees would have had to complete two separate written authorizations a year, Nixon said.

"The bill targets a single group of employees and imposes on them an unnecessary and cumbersome process," Nixon said in his veto message, noting employees could revoke the withholdings at any time. "Singling out union dues for these extra processes serves no beneficial purpose.

"Rather, the bill places unnecessary burdens on public employees for the purpose of weakening labor organizations."

Nixon pointed to Missouri Revised Statute Section 33.103, which states unions may deduct "collective bargaining dues, provided that such dues deductions shall be made only from those individuals agreeing to such deductions."

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry objected to the governor's veto, saying the organization found it difficult to understand how Nixon could justify it.

“Using employees’ money for politicians or issues that they do not support goes against the very tenants this country was built upon,” Missouri chamber President Dan Mehan said in the release. “Employees have a right to say what is taken out of their paychecks for political campaigns, just like each year employees have the option to choose how much is withdrawn to go to organizations like United Way or how much money is taken out of their paychecks for their Cafeteria or 401(k) plans.”