Missouri Teamsters have always shown their strength at the ballot box, with 2018’s repeal of so-called right-to-work (RTW) legislation standing as the hallmark of what Teamster Power can do. The next battle in the war to protect our union is the Missouri governor’s race. The union is focusing its efforts on electing current State Auditor and longtime friend of the Teamsters, Nicole Galloway.

Galloway is no stranger to the union movement. Raised in a union family, she understands firsthand what a union contract can mean. Galloway addressed the July 2020 Teamsters Political Coordinators virtual meeting and promised to be a backstop to any legislative efforts to impose RTW. During a virtual town hall meeting hosted by General President Hoffa and MOKANE President Larry Tinker last week, she committed to go even further to protect the rights and wages of union members.

“These politicians in Jefferson City are telling you if you make less in your paycheck, that you’ll be better off,” she said. “I don’t think so.”

These attacks are personal to Galloway, given her family’s union history, including her grandfather, an operating engineer who helped build the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Besides RTW, the Democratic nominee has pledged to safeguard the state’s prevailing wage and project labor agreement rules, and support Missouri’s public employees.

“Government should not limit your ability and your family’s ability to create your own success story,” she added.

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, who introduced Galloway at the start of the event, said she has a record that shows she stands with working people, noting as state auditor Galloway had uncovered some $350 million in misspent taxpayer funds that led to 50 people being indicted.

“We have a chance to get a new governor, and I think we have the right person in Nicole Galloway,” he said. “She has run statewide and can win statewide.”

Galloway has promised to be a partner in the governor’s office for workers in the Show Me State. She said working people will help guide policy decisions. That includes addressing workplace safety concerns that have become all-too-prevalent during the coronavirus pandemic.

“As governor, working people will be at the center of all I do, with working people at the table,” Galloway stated. “We can’t just go back to where we were at the eve of this crisis because where we were wasn’t good enough for too many people.”

She said she will keep both Democrats and Republicans honest in their efforts to serve Missourians.

“You deserve better than what you are getting in Jefferson City,” she said.

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