On May 14th, Missouri Republicans in the state government used the “nuclear option to cut off debate” and gutted Proposition A, legislation that passed with the support of 57.6% of Missouri voters. Proposition A gave most workers in Missouri the right to mandated paid sick leave and raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour on January 1st, 2026 with and indexed to the Consumer Price Index afterwards.
Missouri voters across the state came out in droves to support the pro-worker legislation, but business groups had sought to overturn the legislation since day one. Why is it that Republicans do not respect the will of citizens? Do they not think that workers deserve paid sick leave? Is the value of a Missouri worker’s labor worth less than a worker in Illinois, where workers have an even more generous paid leave policy?
Brandon Flinn, Business Manager of the Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council said: “As a Union representing a variety of workers around Missouri, our mission is to advance the working conditions of LIUNA members. We advanced that right when our members — and more than 57% of Missouri voters — passed Prop A in 2024 which guaranteed earned sick leave for working families.
“After Republicans voted to take that right away from you today, our LIUNA members and Missourians will once again have to decide whether their health and the health of those around them are more important than a day’s pay.
“LIUNA will continue to fight for expanding the rights of our members. Today’s vote only fuels the fire and vigor for the fight that lies ahead. Our work is never done and we will make sure they know the mistake they made.”
Low-wage workers with Missouri Workers Center, Missouri Jobs with Justice, Abortion Action Missouri, and community allies representing labor, faith, civil rights, and reproductive freedom organizations across the state will came together on May 15, during a noon rally outside of the Capitol building to protest lawmakers’ eleventh-hour decision to buck the will of the people and overturn Missourians’ earned paid sick days and annual minimum wage increase cost-of living adjustments, as well as reproductive freedom.
“When you’re making poverty wages, it doesn’t take much to push you over the edge. I lived that reality two years ago when I came down with the flu. Before I got sick, I was falling behind on rent. Taking unpaid time to recover was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I couldn’t make rent after missing out on $450 in pay, so I came home to an eviction notice. Had I been able to take just a few days off to fully heal while still getting a paycheck, I could have kept me and my son housed,” said Fran Marion, a Wendy’s worker, Missouri Workers Center leader, and mother of two who has worked in the fast food industry for over 20 years without access to paid sick days.
She continued: On International Workers’ Day, Missourians like me celebrated finally being able to earn paid sick days. Now, just weeks later, lawmakers have destroyed what I’ve spent a decade of my life fighting for, what 1.6 million people voted into law in November, and what already went into effect. They’re wasting their time. The people voted across race and place to make paid sick days the law of the land, and we will do whatever it takes to secure our victory once and for all.”
“We won Proposition A in November fair and square, and it’s absurd that politicians have undone the will of the people,” said Alejandro Gallardo, a worker, Missouri Jobs with Justice leader, and signature gatherer in Columbia, Missouri. “I gathered signatures for Proposition A, and can tell you firsthand that Missourians are going to be fired up about its repeal. Taking paid sick leave away from workers now that they are finally earning what they deserve is heartless and infuriating.”
Missouri Republicans used the same nuclear option to put legislation on the ballot that will gut reproductive healthcare rights that Missouri voters had approved at the same time. Voters will now have to teach Missouri Republicans the same lesson, again. How many times do Missouri voters have to teach them this lesson?
“We remain united around our firm belief in democracy, and the sacred principle of One Person, One Vote! Attacks on abortion rights and the will of the people are unacceptable and politicians who disrespect their constituents will have to answer to us,” said Mary Ann Perkins, a leader with Abortion Action Missouri. “We will hold them accountable. We overturned their ban once before. We will do it again. And this time we are already organized and stronger than ever before. We are not backing down. We are not going back.”
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
