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Mo. Unions Rally To Defeat “Anti-Worker” Bills

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Labor union members from across Missouri descended on the State Capitol Wednesday, hoping to convince lawmakers to defeat bills they say are anti-worker.

The Missouri House and Senate have both passed so-called “paycheck protection” bills which are now awaiting further actions in each chamber. The measures would bar public employee unions from automatically deducting dues from workers’ paychecks without written consent.  Brooks Sunkett is the Communications Workers of America’s Vice President for the Public Sector.

“We need to fight back for worker’s rights. We need to build community groups with taxpayers, civil rights groups, with women’s rights groups, with environmentalists, until we have justice, not only for public workers, but for private sector workers,” Sunkett said.

Mike Lewis of the Missouri AFL-CIO spoke against the bills at the rally.

“Our fight against paycheck deception is part of a long struggle, but it’s a struggle to get you full collective bargaining rights like you should have,” Lewis said to the crowd.

Lewis also voiced support for expanding Medicaid, which was again rejected by the Missouri House this week.

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