AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin - Stop the Attack on Public Sector Unions

Urgent Red Alert

Stop the Attack on Public Sector Unions

This week featured the first attack on Union’s collective bargaining rights with sadly many more to come. The many times defeated so- called Right to Work was heard again this week. Despite the temperatures being well below freezing (and in fact well below zero) our Union Brothers and Sisters showed up to stand up for our collective bargaining rights. Although the bill was scheduled to be voted right after the public hearing, the overwhelming amount of online and in person testimony caused the committee Chair to delay the vote until early next week. 

Also, in good news this week, the House heard the first of many bills that would ban students’ use of cell phones in schools. We all know that cell phones have caused a litany of problems in schools. We are heartened that so many on the Education Committee agree that this is real problem in need of a solution. 

Attack on Public Sector Unions   The next significant attack, aimed squarely at public sector unions, is on the docket next week. HB 735-FN would require that every public sector union would need to recertify by a vote of the majority of the bargaining unit when the current members of the unit have never voted on the issue. 

 This bill would impact an overwhelming majority of the almost 700 local unions representing police officers, firefighters, municipal, county, and state employees, along with university faculty and staff, teachers, and school staff unions. While we are confident that our unions would recertify and reaffirm their commitment to their own local unions, this is an unnecessary burden meant to weaken their power. This would create chaos as well as an extraordinary burden and expense on public employers also. We see this bill for what it is. 

This is a bald-faced attempt to eliminate public sector unions in NH.  We will stand up against this attack and need you to join us. 

Urgent Action Needed – Stop the Attack on Public Sector Employees

The hearing on HB 735-FN is scheduled before the House Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. A huge in- person showing at this hearing would be tremendous.

 If you cannot attend, then please immediately REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION at the following link, https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/.

Please follow these directions.

• Fill in your Personal Information
• Select the relevant date and committee for the hearing by clicking on it in the Meeting Schedule Calendar (make sure you are on the right week!). HB 735-FN and select the date – January 28^th.
• In the dropbox below "Select the Committee," select committee. House Labor, Industrial, Rehabilitative Services
• In the dropbox below "Choose the Bill," select the appropriate time and bill number. 3:30pm – HB 735-FN
• Select the appropriate option for the "I am" dropbox (likely "Member of the Public").
• Fill in the content box under "I'm Representing" with the business, organization, or group you are representing. If you are representing yourself only, write "myself."
• Under the “Indicate Your Position on this Bill,” check the circle stating your position on the bill. “I Oppose this Bill”
• After filling in all of the appropriate dropboxes, click “Submit.”
• After clicking submit, you will be brought to the next page, where you will fill in the content boxes with your first and last name, as well as your town, state, and email address.
• Press “Continue.”
• If you wish to speak during the hearing to present your testimony, you will need to attend in person at the State House, but you upload your testimony if you cannot attend.
• If you wish to submit testimony on the bill, email the relevant committee and upload the testimony file from your computer (if you need assistance in this, we are happy to help).

Tracking Universal School Vouchers   The fight to stop a rapid and unaccountable voucher program also continues. The bill (HB 115) has not been scheduled for a committee vote yet, but we will let you know when it is and alert you when additional action is needed. 

For breaking news and other legislative information, please be sure to like us on Facebook at AFT New Hampshire or follow us on Bluesky at aftnh.bsky.social.  Please share this with friends so they can sign up for this bulletin at http://nh.aft.org/. 

Upcoming Legislative Hearings

Week of January 27, 2025