HB400

This is a ridiculous idea that insults unions and public officials. Please vote no.

This bill is designed to complicate unions proceedings and hinder their support of NH's working people.

I strongly oppose this bill. It it would focus negotiation sessions on the show rather than the dialogue needed to reach an agreement.

The right of unions to negotiate directly with their employer must be preserved.

Absolutely NOT! These can be very sensitive negotiations, similar to regular personnel matters.

HB 400 is a phenomenally bad idea. It is unnecessary, impractical, and has the potential to violate employee rights and privacy. HB 400 serves no practical purpose. The interests of citizens are represented by duly elected officials. Once a tentative agreement is reached, the matter goes to the voters. What problem is being solved by making negotiations open to the public? Seems like this is just another attempt to undermine labor unions. Is there pending legislation to make all contract negotiations public? Will negotiations between schools and businesses be open to the public? Furthermore, negotiations involves sensitive and private information. It serves no one's benefit to make that information public, nor is it legal to do so. There are real issues to be solved in New Hampshire; this is not one of them. Please kill HB 400. Sincerely, Andy Gushee

As a former member of à school board, I oppose this bill, for seeing that it could be very detrimental to an honest back and forth between the parties involved as they work to come to an agreement.

This is an anti worker piece of legislation intended to allow a vocal minority to further destroy faith in public education. It will additionally deter qualified teachers from entering the workplace.

I find it terribly disconcerting that members of our legislature have the time and energy to bring such a misguided bill to the House. Is it not bad enough that 1) the State of NH does not properly and adequately fund our public schools; 2) we have a sorry excuse for a Commissioner of Education who does everything he can to undermine public education in our state; 3) teachers have to defend their desire for a decent wage for the countless hours they put in doing the job of educating ALL children (they don't get to pick and choose who comes through their door) every year when budgets come up for approval in their towns (and have to listen to their neighbors complain about how high their taxes are - which is true); and work with less because the State of NH encourages and wants to increase the school choice voucher system and undermine public education? So, now Rep. Brown (and supporters) want to involve anyone with an axe to grind to come humiliate teachers even more by joining in on negotiations! That will be productive now, won't it? No; it's just a way to rile up the public, and further humiliate teachers. Anyone who votes for this bill should know that this is what you're promoting. It's ill-advised and a waste of time! Please, do not support this bill. Thank you.

I am opposed to HB 400. The public does not need to be part of the negotiations process. The collective bargaining negotiation sessions with school districts should not be open to the public. This would focus negotiation sessions on the show rather than the dialogue needed to reach an agreement.   Please vote No on HB 400

I appreciate "right to know," but it is not necessary to hear all the details and conversations in a negotiation process.

Allowing the public access to negotiations between the school board and unions would undermine the bargaining relationship on both sides. The very vocal members of the public who would want to take on this role would use this information to make sure contracts don’t pass, which hurts our teachers and inevitably our students. The school board and the union are the only ones who should be part of the negotiating process.

The school board knows the district inside and out and the public is worried only about their tax line. This bill will hurt teachers and the school districts. Please oppose this bill!

I think that this is micromanaging. We already have a plethora of teaching positions in the state of NH that have gone unfilled. In many cases, it's only getting worse as there are fewer and fewer students looking to pursue a career in education in our college programs. I have sat on many teacher interview committees over the past 30+ years. We have very few applicants for open positions in our schools. The pool is shallow. So many of the disciplines are critical needs areas. We need to be more supportive of our teachers and make the teaching profession an attractive one in New Hampshire to lure candidates from other states. This bill would make collective bargaining negotiation sessions spectacles rather than allow sides to negotiate in a honest and respectful dialogue needed to reach mutually fair agreements. Both unions and employers oppose this bill so it should be strongly opposed. Let the elected school board members do their job and work with the school unions.

Negotiations that union members take part in should never be open to the public.

This bill would turn negotiations into a public spectacle, fostering tension and drama rather than the calm, constructive discussions needed for meaningful progress between collective bargaining units and employers.

To me, it would seem that this bill would have a massive negative impact on the ability to get an agreement done. I've seen long struggles with contract negotiations and have worked in districts where contracts were deadlocked for years resulting in losing many qualified teachers. Even teachers that stay lose quality time by advocating for a fair situation and takes away from the extra time that they already put into the instruction, class and school. Spending more resources and time only takes away from pressing issues for schools and instead of moving forward, it results in wasted time. The only thing I see happening is less value (monetary, gratitude & reputation) thus driving more qualified and caring individuals away from the profession.

I strongly oppose this bill.

This sounds like another way to weaken the negotiations that unions hold. There don’t need to be more cooks in the kitchen. Negotiations should remain private. The final agreement is made public and that is enough. Vote this bill down.

Contract negotiations among district leaders and union groups have full knowledge of what it mean and is like to do the jobs in question. To allow these conversations to be open to the public allows for shaming of teachers, para professionals, and administrators from people who are ill informed on classrooms procedures, school standards, district and school policy. Many members of the public do not understand how drastic the repercussions are when cutting budgets and benefits of union groups. Members of the public had the opportunity to elect their school board members. If they disagree on how things are handled they should reach out to the school board members and let them do their job.

I am in opposition to this bill. I have worked in the public school system for 30 years. This bill undermines the service that teachers provide. This bill is one more attempt to privatize education to make profit by dismantling the public school system and demean the profession of teaching.

Proposed HB 400 would be particularly detrimental to good faith bargaining associations by shifting the focus from meaningful negotiations to public spectacle, hindering their ability to advocate effectively for their needs in a collaborative and private setting. Sometimes these collaborations reflect confidential, personal information from both parties, and it is inappropriate and unnecessary for them to be publicized. Their are other ways to increase transparency by maintaining confidentiality and respecting the process of both bargaining units.

Educators are already receiving much lower pay than they would working for a private business with similar education and experience. They should be represented by a union that understands the needs of the students, staff, and buildings. Without a union, there will be even more of a teacher shortage, which would impact student success as there would be much larger classes and could be taught by people with no background in. education. Let's keep what works for both the students and educators, as well as taxpayers (as they do not want to pay educators the same as employees of private businesses). Support the educators that teach your children to be ready for society and the workforce.

I strongly oppose this bill being heard in the house.