Employer Law Blog

The Republican controlled General Assembly is getting a head start on the labor and employment front by pre-filing several pro-business labor and employment bills. Right to work- In general, the various bills in one form or another make contract clauses that require union membership as a condition of employment or continued employment null and void. Most of the bills do NOT apply retroactive. Accordingly, all present union security clauses in current collective bargaining agreements would remain in full force and effect. The “right to work” bills include Missouri House Bills 91, 42, and 131; and Missouri Senate Bills 19 and 21.

On July 28, 2016, the Seventh Circuit issued its decision in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College holding Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Seventh Circuit’s opinion is the first to address this issue since the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission held in July 2015 sexual orientation is sex discrimination and therefore violates Title VII.