BUSINESS BRIEF

Anti-labor efforts target Ohio, Missouri, Oregon

12/19/2013

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Buoyed by successes in the Midwest, conservatives and business groups are targeting at least three more states for efforts that could weaken labor unions by ending their ability to collect mandatory bargaining fees.

The efforts focus on Ohio, Missouri, and Oregon and — in a twist — could put the issue before voters in 2014 instead of relying on potentially reluctant governors to enact laws passed by state legislators. The strategy to appeal to voters could avoid a redo of massive union-led protests that clogged capitols where Republicans recently enacted other anti-labor proposals.