JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Aug. 18, 2017 — The Machinists Union, which has more than 12,000 members in Missouri, is applauding the union-led grassroots movement against SB 19, the state’s harmful, so-called “right-to-work“ law. The Machinists Union represents Missourians in the automotive industry and at Boeing, GKN, ATK, Harley-Davidson and Honeywell.
Advocates on Friday, Aug. 18 will rally at the Missouri Capitol before delivering the signatures to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office.
Missouri Machinists Union members are part of a coalition of volunteers who gathered more than 300,000 registered voter signatures, more than three times the amount needed to block the anti-union law’s Aug. 28 implementation and hold a statewide referendum vote in November 2018. Republican Gov. Eric Greitens signed SB 19 in February after it passed both houses of the GOP-majority General Assembly.
Robert Martinez Jr., Machinists Union International President:
“What’s happening in Missouri is making the rich and powerful sick to their stomach. Working people punched back against corporate power and now we’ve delivered a game-changing rebuke of a rigged economy. It’s our turn to write the rules, but this time we’re going to push legislation that benefits Missouri’s working families. We’re going to work hard in the next election to defeat extreme right wing-politicians like Gov. Greitens who give multi-national corporations more power to outsource jobs, cut wages, and reduce health and retirement benefits at the expense of our workers, small businesses, and the local economy.”
Philip J. Gruber, Machinists Union Midwest Territory General Vice President:
“Congratulations to IAM Districts 9 and 837 in St. Louis, 778 in Kansas City, the Missouri State AFL-CIO and union members throughout the entire state for all the hard work and tireless days, nights and weekends put into planning petition drives and gathering the signatures needed for this important measure. Working families have to remain vigilant in the fight to protect workers’ right to bargain collectively. Gov. Greitens should consider himself on notice when it comes to unions and protecting the middle class. The fight has only just begun.”
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The International Associations of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, representing nearly 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, shipbuilding, woodworking and other industries. Visit goIAM.org for more information.
