Personnel committee gives due-pass to resolution voluntarily recognizing UAW for St. Louis legislative staff

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s Personnel and Administration Committee voted 4-0 on Oct. 9 to pass out of committee with a due-pass recommendation Resolution 118, which would voluntarily recognize the legislative staff organizing committee and UAW Local 1887 as the bargaining representative for non‑managerial legislative staff.

Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, who sponsored the resolution, told the committee the organizing effort is worker led and that staff have presented signed authorization cards representing about 75% of the proposed bargaining unit. “I think what’s stated in this resolution is very clear that we are a union‑supportive board,” Aldridge said, urging colleagues to formally acknowledge the staff organizing effort.

Chelsea Mirda, a current or recently departed legislative assistant who testified in support of the petition, described a April 2024 meeting that had been framed as confidential and later disclosed to other staff. “When that is not maintained, we need a union,” she said, explaining why she and others sought representation.

Laura Hubert, a UAW Region 4 representative, told the committee that voluntary recognition is a permitted option under local ordinance and that an employer’s public support for a union is not, by itself, coercion. “An employer … saying that they’re supportive of a union is not coercion,” she said, describing options for voluntary recognition and neutral verification.

Some legislative assistants raised concerns that not all employees had been contacted about organizing. Kevin Bailey, who identified himself as a legislative assistant, said he was not contacted and asked the committee to pause so organizers could reach everyone. Aldridge acknowledged the concern and said organizers should continue outreach; he also said signed authorization cards are available for aldermen to review.

Committee members pressed for clarity about which job titles are included in the proposed bargaining unit. Committee members and organizers said the list includes legislative assistants and several non‑managerial positions in the president’s office (policy associate, research assistant, assistant to the secretary of communications), and that agreements could rely on MOUs to address matters that require full‑board authority, such as final hiring, firing or salary changes.

After discussion, the clerk called the roll. Vice Chair Cone, Alderman Clark Hubbard, Aldridge and President Megan Green each voted “aye,” producing a 4‑0 tally and sustaining the motion to move Resolution 118 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation.

The committee’s action sends Resolution 118 forward with a recommendation; the resolution’s text as read in committee cites the Civil Service Commission (rule 1, section 1, subsection z, clause 5) as the basis for voluntary recognition and states organizers have collected authorization cards from approximately 75% of the unit. Organizers told the committee they have not yet presented verified paperwork to the state mediation board.

Aldridge announced that aldermen who wish to review the signed authorization cards may do so, and the committee adjourned.