AFT-NH | AFT Stateweb

AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin 2017-03

Bow, NH
January 20, 2017

Yesterday, the NH Senate passed SB 11, the so-called ‘right to work’ bill, by a vote of 12-11. Ten Democratic senators were joined by Republican Senator Sharon Carson in opposing the bill, while one Republican Senator, Robert Guida, was absent and did not vote. By this action, the Republican majority in the NH Senate (excepting Senator Carson) makes clear where it stands. Their aim is to weaken organized labor and the ability of working people to negotiate collectively and have a powerful voice in the workplace. When organized labor is strong, working people are strong, wages rise, benefits improve, and there is greater mutual respect and equality in the workplace. ‘Right to work’ intends to reverse gains made in New Hampshire over nearly the past fifty years, and in tandem with other legislation, will turn New Hampshire into the low-wage haven of New England.

AFT-NH Statement on Nomination of Frank Edelblut for Commissioner of Education

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Douglas Ley, AFT NH President
Phone: (603) 831-3661

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2:00 P.M. EDT, January 18, 2017

BOW, NH - AFT-NH President Douglas Ley released the following statement on the nomination of Representative Frank Edelblut as Commissioner of Education.

“Just as AFT on the national level has expressed strong opposition to the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, we are gravely concerned about a Commissioner of Education who, when running for governor, supported further diverting much needed funding and resources from our public schools. Our teachers and school district employees are trained professionals who have dedicated a lifetime to serving NH students. There is no evidence based on Mr. Edelblut’s public record that he either has the experience in education or public service on the local level that demonstrates the requisite knowledge and understanding to lead NH schools and serve more than 180,000 students, our State’s most precious resource.”

AFT-NH represents approximately 4,000 teachers, school support staff, city and town employees, police officers, library employees, and higher education faculty. AFT-NH is a member of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO and is the state affiliate for the American Federation of Teachers with more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide, 43 state affiliates, and more than 1.3 million members.

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AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin- 2017-02

On Tuesday, January 10, hundreds packed Reps Hall in the State House for the Senate Commerce Committee public hearing on SB 11, the proposed “right to work” legislation. From 1 pm into the evening, a long line of witnesses, including Senators, Representatives, labor leaders, and working people (union and non-union) spoke against so-called “right to work” legislation. They pointed out that it would bring no new economic investment to NH, would inject the State into the negotiations process, and was simply an attempt to financially cripple labor unions and thereby weaken their ability to better the working conditions and the lives of those they represent. And then, at the end of the day, without taking any time to consider evidence presented, the Committee voted 3-2, along strict party lines, to send SB 11 onto the Senate, with a recommendation of “ought to pass.”

New Report from EPI Makes It Clear-No Value to NH with RTW (for less)

A new report issued by the Economic Policy Institute, January 12, 2017 shows clearly that passing a so-called Right to Work law will only hurt the NH advantage. In 201l, we successfully fought off attacks and were supported by Governor Hassan’s veto on RTW. In 2012, Indiana passed a right to work bill. In a nutshell, “NH’s economy is stronger and our citizens are better off”. The link to the article is provided below. You can link to the full report here.

“In 2011 and 2012 two states, New Hampshire and Indiana, debated the same bill: so-called “right-to-work” legislation, pushed by corporate lobbyists and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), designed to weaken unions financially and pave the way for greater corporate dominance of state politics. New Hampshire’s governor vetoed the bill in 2011. Indiana, by contrast, enacted it in 2012. It is instructive to compare the two states. By almost any measure, the economy of New Hampshire is stronger and its citizens are better off, on average, than the citizens of Indiana. Right-to-work did not improve the Indiana economy relative to New Hampshire’s, and no one should be fooled into thinking that passing right-to-work now will improve the New Hampshire economy."

Breaking News-Senate Commerce Committee by 3-2 Vote Recommends Passage of RTW

The NH State Senate Commerce Committee, after hundreds appeared in opposition at a public hearing today, have recommended passage of the so-called Right to Work bill by a vote of 3-2.

We thank Senators Donna Soucy and Bette Lasky for voting against this bill fueled by out of state interests. This union busting legislation will proceed to the full Senate for a vote. It is clear that the NH Senate republicans have put this bill on a fast track.

Stay tuned for updates and gear up to fight this battle until the last vote is counted. We stand together to fight for NH working families and for strong unions.

Defeat SB 11- Right to Work is Wrong for NH

The NH Senate Commerce Committee will be hearing a Right to Work (for less) bill, Senate Bill 11, on Tuesday, January 10th at 1pm. The hearing will be held at the NH State House in Representatives Hall. This bill has been scheduled quickly and has been cited as a priority by Governor Chris Sununu and the GOP majority.

We know this is wrong for NH and will hurt NH’s economy and working families. This bill has been defeated repeatedly for thirty years and nothing has changed to justify this legislation. This a blatant attempt to weaken the voice of working familes and unions because the proponents know that when unions are strong all workers have highers wages not just union workers. To read more, please click here.

Let's join union members and allies from across NH and stand together to help defeat this destructive legislation.