House overrides governor for new union restrictions

Two-thirds of the Missouri House has voted to change how public union members pay dues, the first step in overriding a veto by Gov. Jay Nixon. The House voted 109-47 Wednesday in favor of a bill requiring public employees to re-authorize union dues through every year.

The measure now goes to the Senate.

Nixon vetoed the bill in March, saying it places unnecessary burdens on unions.

House Democrats called the legislation an attempt to weaken unions for the benefit of employers.

Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson said the measure will empower workers by making unions more transparent. He said if labor organizations want to reverse years of declining membership, they need to restore workers’ trust.

The bill would also require those unions to make financial records available to workers.