Missouri’s Republican-led state Legislature passed a bill requiring public sector unions to hold recertication elections every three years and annually obtain permission from their members to deduct union dues from their paychecks. The state’s Republican governor, Eric Greitens, is expected to sign the bill into law.

Public employee unions in Missouri will need at least 50 percent of employees to vote in favor of recertication every three years. The bill also requires 30 percent of workers’ signatures to call an election to create or dissolve unions and bans paid time off for union business, with the exception of handling grievances.

The same bill mandates that public employee collective bargaining agreements make picketing fireable offense. Corrections workers, police, firefigters and other public emergency personnel are exempt from the legislation’s requirements.

Missouri Republicans have wanted to rein in unions for years, and GOP supermajorities in the House and Senate have made it possible.

Associated Press, May 16 and 17