HB238

Right to work” legislation suppresses wages and lowers workplace safety. On average, states with right to work have wages that are 16% lower than states that do not have right to work laws. This legislation is bad for NH.

Dear Chairman Creighton, Vice-Chair Avellani, and Members of the Committee, My name is Michelle Robbins, and I am the Owner of B&B Offset Printing. I write you today to register my opposition to HB 238-FN, which would make New Hampshire a so-called “Right to Work” state. As a union signatory contractor, we value the relationship we have with our union employees and their chosen collective bargaining representative – IUPAT District Council 35. The agreement that our employees work under is one that has been negotiated privately between the union and employers, and has been ratified by union members – free from government interference. For the New Hampshire State Legislature to step in and dictate what can and cannot be included in a contract between two private entities is simply an unnecessary government intrusion. To provide unions and employers with the freedom and flexibility to negotiate agreements that work for them, I urge the members of the Committee to oppose HB 238-FN. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Michelle Robbins

Dear Chairman Creighton, Vice-Chair Avellani, and Members of the Committee, My name is Tom Parilla Jr., and I am the Vice President of Total Glazing Systems. I write you today to register my opposition to HB 238-FN, which would make New Hampshire a so-called “Right to Work” state. As a union signatory contractor, we value the relationship we have with our union employees and their chosen collective bargaining representative – IUPAT District Council 35. The agreement that our employees work under is one that has been negotiated privately between the union and employers, and has been ratified by union members – free from government interference. For the New Hampshire State Legislature to step in and dictate what can and cannot be included in a contract between two private entities is simply an unnecessary government intrusion. Further, the collective bargaining agreement that our employees work under covers multiple states, and our employees work in multiple states. If New Hampshire were to change the law in a way that is inconsistent with the other states covered under collective bargaining agreement, it would cause an administrative headache for my company and many others. To provide unions and employers with the freedom and flexibility to negotiate agreements that work for them, I urge the members of the Committee to oppose HB 238-FN. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Tom Parilla Jr. Total Glazing Systems

Dear Chairman Creighton, Vice-Chair Avellani, and Members of the Committee, My name is Eric Mosher, and I am the Owner of Custom Glass, Inc. I write you today to register my opposition to HB 238-FN, which would make New Hampshire a so-called “Right to Work” state. As a union signatory contractor, we value the relationship we have with our union employees and their chosen collective bargaining representative – IUPAT District Council 35. The agreement that our employees work under is one that has been negotiated privately between the union and employers, and has been ratified by union members – free from government interference. For the New Hampshire State Legislature to step in and dictate what can and cannot be included in a contract between two private entities is simply an unnecessary government intrusion. Further, the collective bargaining agreement that our employees work under covers multiple states, and our employees work in multiple states. If New Hampshire were to change the law in a way that is inconsistent with the other states covered under collective bargaining agreement, it would cause an administrative headache for my company and many others. To provide unions and employers with the freedom and flexibility to negotiate agreements that work for them, I urge the members of the Committee to oppose HB 238-FN. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Eric Mosher Custom Glass, Inc

The right to work is doublespeak phrase that indicates a lack of interest in protection of the worker. This bill is an attempt to broaden unnecessary government overreach into how businesses operate in the state.

Year after year, the legislature wastes time on these bills because here in NH, we know that Right to Work is WRONG FOR NH WORKERS!!

This bill appears to be trying to ban unions without actually banning them by reducing their effectiveness. This is against my values.

Please vote to ITL HB238, as it infringes on my freedom to associate with organizations of my choice under the false pretense of aiming to prevent compelled association. As an intelligent human being, I am fully capable of seeking employment - of my choosing - with employers who have chosen to provide a fair and balanced labor relationship and agreement (via collective bargaining agreement) to help support their employees and their relationship with their employees. There is nothing, “forced” in these relationships. It is really quite simple: (1) Employees voted in a majority to form a union. (2) Employees voted in a majority to accept a negotiated agreement with the employer. (3) Employer agreed to terms of the collective bargaining agreement and its terms. (4) Any new job seekers chose to apply for a job with the employer. (5) Employer chose to hire new employee. This bill, if passed, is nothing more than more government interference and bureaucracy, and it is not necessary. I have over 40 years of employment history and chose less than 5 years of employment with employers who did not have a collective bargaining agreement. Unequivocally, the presence of such an agreement added true value to the employer/employee relationship. Please do not infringe on my rights of freedom of association in my workplace. Thank you.

Right to Work has been pushed and financed by many right-wing groups such as the Koch Brothers Foundation, the Koch financed "Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy" that benefits usually large companies and corporations. Oh, not forgetting, the Koch Foundation also established the mis-leading "Americans for Prosperity" (for corporate big-wigs). No, labor unions and many immigrants from around the world helped build America. DSo, please leave workers alone and admit that the middle class benefit from having representatives bargain collectively for better working conditions, higher pay, vacations, and health care, and so on. Unions, despite some past corrupt leaders (Jimmy Hoffa) are not the norm. Let's keep the so-called NH Advantage and support our workers and their families by defeating HB 238! Thank you.

I believe that right to work will lower wages in NH. Studies have shown that state states with right to work laws tend to have lower average wages compared to states without such laws and right to work Also right to work also adds Increased Inequality that right to work laws contribute to economic inequality by reducing the bargaining power of lower and middle income workers while employers usually the wealthiest benefit from lower labor this will be a real disservice to New Hampshires working class.

Right to work is bad for news for union workers

The title of the bill does not fool anyone. It’s a way to make the rich richer and the poor poorer,

My strong opinion in opposition of this bill that is has proven not to accomplish what it is advertised to do. It drives down the middle class wages and as a result hurts the very people it is purported to help. I urge you not to enact this bill once and for all!!

Right-to-Work" is wrong for New Hampshire, plain and simple. It deprives workers of their freedom to join together and form strong unions if they choose to. All that so-called "Right-toWork" laws do is suppress wages, lower workplace safety, and reduce the quality of public services we rely on in our communities.This bill is nothing more than an attempt by out-of-state corporate special interest groups to abolish unions altogether—they couldn’t care less about the freedom of New Hampshire’s workers. Real freedom is the ability to stand together with your coworkers to negotiate for things like retirement security, workplace safety and better benefits, and that’s precisely what will go away if "Right-to-Work" passes.Supporters of “Right-to-Work” claim that it will stop people from being forced into joining a labor union and that this bill will advance Freedom of Association. In truth, this is a non-issue, since the passing of the Taft-Hartley Act, in 1947, made it illegal to force workers to become part of a union. That “freedom of choice” already exists for New Hampshire workers. This bill will diminish freedom. It diminishes the American spirit of free enterprise and contracts by allowing the state to interfere in fee-for-service exchanges. Through this government intervention, the state would be creating free riders by providing benefits to those who don’t pay for them. It diminishes the freedom of workers to join together in the workplace to help provide for their families. It is difficult for me to think of another circumstance that the sponsors of this bill would agree with, where the government would require a private business to provide free services, involve itself in negotiations between two private entities, or advocate for the expansion of government at the taxpayers’ expense.

I oppose this bill and I call upon you, my representatives, to oppose this bill. The term “right to work” is used disingenuously here. All NH citizens have the right to work. This bill aims to limit our right to negotiate fairly and lawfully to be paid for our labor. Do not give away the dignity and decency of hard-working NH people to greedy outside interests. NH workers deserve to be paid for NH labor so they can support their NH families.

I oppose this bill on several grounds but I'd like to share my journey to union membership with you. In the late 1990s I worked for the NH DHHS. I was a single parent receiving no child support. The first several years I worked for the state I did not make enough to cover my food, rent, child care, car payment, student loan payments, and insurance. I was not breaking even and It wasn't feasible for me to join. This was not an entry level job either. It required a college degree. This says more about the low wages at DHHS and the lack of child support than the union fees!!! Gregg Moore from AFP testified this morning that a staff person at DHHS told him that the union payment was high and going to impact them. He interacted with hundreds of us (including me). His one anecdote should demonstrate that most of the people he worked with were OK with their dues and one person doesn't speak for all. I'd wager this person was at a low wage like I had been. As I learned more about the CBA, I realized I hadn't been paying my fair share from the get go. All of the health benefits, COLAs, and wage increases I got were because of the CBA. I'm so grateful that I became a member.

This is not right for NH

This bill opposes worker's rights. It will disenfranchise New Hampshire workers and families.

I am a retired union firefighter. Unions are a needed resource for public safety employees. Having a contract ensures fair working conditions for the employee and measurable benchmarks for the employer. Don’t give the national lobby a win. Turn down this bill.

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. I write in opposition to this bill. Having been a member of a Union in this state for over 48 years, I have witnessed NO forcing of employees to join the union. This bill comes up almost every session and is defeated each time. Don't try to fix something that is not broken. Please vote this Bill down. Sincerely, David McLean Rochester, NH

I am a retired worker and am writing in OPPOSITION to so-called Right To Work legislation FB 238-FN This legislation, with its historically racist roots, was initially created to keep non-white workers in America’s Southern states from working in industrial jobs. Now, out-of-state interests are once again trying to make it harder for New Hampshire Workers to have good jobs, with good pay, and good benefits. Workers and Community Groups and many Employers don’t want this legislation New Hampshire Workers, New Hampshire Employers, and New Hampshire Legislators have rejected this same anti-worker legislation (at least) 4 times in the past 2 decades - most recently just last year. And here we are, once again, beating this tired, dead horse, that does not help New Hampshire workers. The Lie: “This legislation “protects” workers from being forced to join a union.” The Truth: Existing, long-standing, Federal Law prohibits union membership, or lack thereof, from being a requirement for get hired. Federal Lab Law already protects non-union workers AND union workers. More Truth: This Legislation is all about GREED – > It helps keep worker’s pay low Workers in so-called Right To Work states earn, on average, $6,109 less per year than Workers in free bargaining states > It helps Deprive Workers of Benefits, like health insurance and retirement pensions. Workers in so-called Right To Work states are much less likely to have these benefits. > It helps make Workplaces Less Safe - the figures I saw last year indicated that Workers in so-called Right to Work states were 47% more likely to have a fatal accident on-the-job than New Hampshire Workers. It does Not Create New Jobs - Historically, New Hampshire has a better Jobs Creation rate than so-called Right To Work states. If NH really wanted to protect workers, the New Hampshire State Legislature could do many things: - Fund More Safety Inspectors to promote safer workplaces and ensure Employer compliance with safety regulations. (NH workers are already statistically safer on the job than workers in so-called Right To Work states, but they could be even safer if the state government was really committed to safe work places). - Expand Medicare to working families, including hourly workers. - Raise the NH Minimum Wage - it is now/still just $7.50 an hour. The average NH Worker already earns more annually than workers in so-called Right To Work states, but the lowest wage NH earners need more help. - Support and fund workforce training so NH young people will have the job skills to stay in, and earn a decent living in, NH and not have to leave the state for a career. I urge this Committee to Reject to so-called Right To Work legislation FB 238-FN and Vote NO!

This is not about a right to work - we have that already. This bill is all about weakening unions. I oppose that. Unions are the backbone of the middle class which keeps getting smaller. Please vote no on this union-crushing bill.