Gov. to sign bill making Missouri 28th right-to-work state

(AP) — Republican Gov. Eric Greitens on Monday is making Missouri the 28th state to ban mandatory union fees and dues, delivering a big win for primarily GOP supporters who have worked for years to pass the so-called right-to-work measure.

Hundreds of union workers and other opponents on Thursday packed the House visitors' galleries to watch as lawmakers took a final vote on the bill.

"Governor Greitens should have had the courage to sign this bill into law before employees at Boeing, Ford or one of the many other proud union shops in our state so he could explain to their faces exactly how Missouri will be better off when they have less power to negotiate for higher wages, decent benefits and safer working conditions," she said in a statement.

If enough signatures are collected, voters could decide in 2018 whether to adopt a constitutional amendment protecting workplace contracts requiring all employees to pay fees covering the costs of union representation.