Show-Me Minute - Union Elections

In an election year, you can vote for anyone you choose. But if you’re a union government worker, like many police officers, teachers and firefighters in Missouri, the odds are good you have no choice at all. Imagine we voted for our public officials once and only once for a lifetime appointment. Would that be fair? In Missouri, once a union becomes the exclusive representative for a group of public employees, the union remains in power indefinitely. Another election is not scheduled unless employees can push through a decertification election…a difficult and often expensive process. Why not have regular union elections? They would serve as a good check on potential abuses when union leaders don’t have to answer to anybody. It’s what we use to keep public officials in check. Elections would help rank-and-file union members hold their leaders accountable. It’s called democracy. Check out our 2017 Missouri Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward at showmeinstitute.org. This Show-Me Minute has been brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.