The proposed bill puts a new twist on an old, well known union busting Right to Work law
Written by Matt Murray on the NH Labor News.
Tomorrow, the NH House Labor Committee will hold their public hearing on HB 1341 a new and very sneaky way to pass a Right To Work for less bill.
Republican Representative John Martin introduced HB1341 as a way for non-union members, who are covered by a union contract, to get out of paying their fair share by allowing them to make a donation to the charity of their choice. This would allow the non-members to freeload off the union by skipping out on their share of the administration costs.
This is exactly the same as every other Right to Work for less bill except in this version non-members would still have to pay, they just would not have to pay the union.
Right to Work is a union-busting tactic has been used for decades. Bust the union by attempting to bankrupt them.
We already know that Right to Work laws are designed to destroy unions and further the Race to the Bottom. Workers in Right to Work states make about 3% less than workers in free bargaining states. This means workers will make on average, $1500 less in Right to Work states. Workers are also much less likely to have access to healthcare, retirement plans and other negotiated benefits like family leave and paid sick time.
This piece of legislation could allow these freeloading non-members to take money that should have gone to the union and funnel it directly into anti-worker groups like the Americans for Prosperity, who are officially listed at a charity by the state.
Passing Right To Work has been one of AFP-NH's main legislative goals for many years.
Did the Americans for Prosperity have a hand in writing this bill? I do not know, but I am pretty certain they will be there to support it.
If you agree that this type of underhanded attack on workers is wrong then join us at the NH State Capitol's Legislative Office Building, Room 307, tomorrow (2-11-16) to make your voice heard.
If you cannot make it to the State House tomorrow, you can write or call the members of the House Labor Comittee (click here to email the committee) and tell them to vote this bill "INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE" to kill the bill.