Gov. Eric Greitens signed the Right to Work bill into Missouri law on Monday. This makes Missouri the 28th state to adopt this law. It goes into effect Aug. 28.

This has become a very controversial topic between those who support or oppose worker unions. It’s a hard issue to cover, and I don’t stand firmly on either side.

Right to Work bans mandatory union fees as a requirement for employment. Those who oppose it say that lawmakers are trying to weaken and break up unions.

Unions provide higher wages, better access to benefits and increased job security. They also ensure a safe working environment. These are all great things, and trying to weaken them sounds really awful.

When Right to Work goes into effect, employees do not have to join the union and those who opt out are still able to take advantage of the union benefits without having to pay for them.
This is problematic. If workers do not pay for the benefits, such as lawyers when necessary, they should not have access to them.

For many unions, membership is mandatory and requires a membership fee. Right to Work doesn’t prevent employees from unionizing, but employers also can hire non-union workers.
I do not think workers should be forced to join the union.

Unions do a lot of good, but if employees do not agree with the actions of the union, they should have the right not to be a part of it.

That is what makes Right to Work difficult. It needs to be sent back to the drawing board to cover the use of union benefits without being a union member.

Could this be a ploy by big business? Sure, but if the unions are only strong because membership is forced, should they really be that strong? Unions serve an important purpose, but they have their time and place.

Overall, Right to Work is not necessarily wrong, but it needs some revisions before it is enacted.