A collective bargaining battle in Missouri has escalated, with the state now appealing a judge’s order upholding state employee union’s right to collect “fair-share” fees from workers who benefit from contracts but aren’t actually members of the unions. The outgoing Democratic Governor,
Bob Holden, issued an executive order allowing those collections. But Republican Secretary of State and now governor-elect Matt Blunt is against it and refused to implement the order. A judge ruled against him and for the unions but now Blunt says he will rescind the order as soon as he takes power as governor in January. The state of Missouri is appealing the pro-union decision and wants the order put on hold while the appeal process unfolds. Missouri Gov. Bob Holden in 2001 issued an executive order granting collective bargaining rights to thousands of state workers. He also granted state employee unions the right to collect those “fair-share” fees. This is one of the first post-election skirmishes between labor and Republicans.