Laborday in March St. Louis, up in arms

busy day for politics in St. Louis. see some you downtown this afternoon. follow the cigar smoke

http://www.stlbeacon.org/voices/blogs/political-blogs/beacon-backroom/108830-business-vies-with-labor-for-attention
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Business, labor compete for attention at various local events today
By Jo Mannies, Beacon political reporter

Posted 2:06 am, Fri., 3.11.11
Today will be all about labor -- but from starkly different perspectives.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donahue will be in town, addressing the Regional Chamber and Growth Association at a lunch today in which he will discuss "the critical job creation and competitiveness issues facing Congress and the Obama Administration," according to the RCGA.

Donahue will be greeted outside by protesters with Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE). Organizers contend that the national chamber -- which was politically visible last fall -- "has been a major force increasing the disparity in wealth and income in this country, as well as destroying workplace democracy..."

It's unclear if Donahue will discuss the "right to work'' issue now before the General Assembly, which would bar closed-union shops. The RCGA is among several St. Louis area businesses or groups who have opted to stay out of the battle, which is about to boil over in Jefferson City when the issue comes up for a Senate vote next week.

But Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, will certainly highlight his views on the subject during an 11 a.m. event today at The Columns in St. Charles.

Mix is in Missouri on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of the Associated Builders and Contractors, one of several business groups lobbying the legislature to pass a "right to work'' measure.

Mix said in an interview earlier this week that the "right to work" issue is not just of economics, but also of "individual worker freedom."

All "right to work'' does, he said, "is give workers the choice of whether to join a union." He contended that closed-union shops, which require that all workers pay dues, amount to "compulsory unionism'' and should be banned.

Mix added that union membership actually has increased lately in "right to work'' states, while declining in states that allow closed-union shops.

Regardless of how the "right to work'' bill fares in the legislature, Mix predicts that the issue will be important to voters and Missouri candidates in the 2012 election.

"I think the people in Missouri need to know who stands for freedom and who stands for coersion,'' Mix said.　

Area labor unions, St. Louis Democrats, allied church groups and others plan to seek to do just that -- from their perspective -- at a rally slated for 4 p.m. today at Kiener Plaza.

Organizers say the rally is " against corporate greed, for Missouri working families."

"Working Missourians, religious leaders, community groups and students will stand united against the onslaught of state and federal legislation that have been filed to pay back greedy CEOs and shadowy interest groups," the state AFL-CIO said in its release.

The labor group highlights various bills in the state Senate or House this session. "Slashing the minimum wage, a push to repeal child labor laws and 'right to work for less legislation' are legislative priorities of out-of-control Wall Street banks and corporate CEOs, not Missouri voters," the AFL-CIO said.

The St. Louis Democratic committee is encouraging its activists and supporters to attend.