Voters Reject Work-For-Less Prop A, Support the Role of Unions to Improve the Lives of Workers and Their Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), issued the following statement regarding the defeat of Proposition A, also known as “Right-to-Work,” in Missouri:
“This is a historic defeat for those corporate and political elites who believe workers should earn poverty wages and struggle with no benefits, and a major victory for every hard-working Missourian who believes that their right to affordable health care, better wages, and retirement security must be protected.
“Through their vote, Missourians have made their voices loud and clear by taking a stand for their right to negotiate together for a better life.
“It is time for those in political power to stop proposing legislation that needlessly hurts workers, their families, and destroys good jobs. It is time to put hard-working families first.”
BACKGROUND:
When union density is high, workers are empowered to earn better wages, solve problems, and improve their workplaces. Additional research shows:
- Economic Policy Institute: “Union decline has exacerbated wage inequality in the United States by dampening the pay of nonunion workers as well as by eroding the share of workers directly benefitting from unionization.”
- Nine of the 10 states with the highest poverty in this country are Work-for-Less states.
- The median household income is $8,700 lower in Work-for-Less states.
- In Work-for-Less states, CEOs make 361 times more than the average worker.
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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries.
Our members help put food on our nation’s tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at www.ufcw.org.