Category Archives: NH AFL-CIO
New Hampshire Labor Has Lost One Of Its Strongest Voices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SO-CALLED “RIGHT-TO-WORK” DEFEATED
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: February 16, 2017
Contact: Alan Raff, (603) 714-0258
New Hampshire AFL-CIO Reacts to House Vote on “Right to Work”
Concord – Following the House vote on so-called “Right to Work” today, Glenn Brackett, President of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO made the following statement:
“Today a bi-partisan majority confirmed that ‘Right to Work’ is still wrong for New Hampshire, and this vote should be the final nail in the coffin. Across the Granite State, working people stood together against this corporate-backed legislation that would cripple our ability to speak up on job. We thank the legislators who let workers’ voices rise above special interests’.”
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ICYMI: Right to Work Supporter Admits “Right to Work” is About Killing Unions
Jim Roche, President of the NH Business and Industry Association admits that so-called “Right-to-Work” is really about destroying unions. Tell you legislator to oppose Right to Work! http://bit.ly/NHrtw
New Hampshire Working Families Deal So-Called “Right-to-Work” Legislation Its First Blow
Glenn Brackett, President of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO: “The New Hampshire AFL-CIO was proud to stand with hundreds of working people across the state who are fighting to protect their rights at work. This legislation is an attack on working families by out-of-state special interests seeking to lower wages for everyone and undermine worker protections. The proponents of this legislation are playing politics with the future of our workforce, and New Hampshire working families deserve better.”
Richard Gulla, President of SEA/SEIU Local Union 1984: “So-called right to work has no place in the Granite State, and I’m proud we were able to pack this hall today with those who agree. Both of these bills are tired, recycled legislation that does nothing for the real problems facing our state. We need the House to reject these bills so we can get down to working together on legislation that helps – not hurts – New Hampshire families.”
Sarah Hirsch, President of the University of New Hampshire Lecturers Union: “The families of New Hampshire want the college students to be solidly prepared and ready to enter good careers. To do this, the faculty who teach and mentor them need to be protected, have job stability and security, good benefits, and a say in their working conditions! Weakening unions ultimately weakens higher education, undercutting the development of a skilled workforce for New Hampshire at a time when we need more competitive workers in the state.”
Frank Moroney, Executive Director AFSCME Council 93: “It’s a powerful statement that a majority of legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, voted against so-called “Right to Work” today. They stood together because they know protecting our right to speak up together on the job shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Right to Work would hurt working families across the Granite State, and we’ll continue to fight against this legislation as it moves to the House floor.”
Dennis Caza, President of Teamsters Local Union 633: “Today, hundreds of our brothers and sisters stood in Solidarity to defend the rights of New Hampshire’s workers. We hope that we have sent a message to the legislature that so-called “Right-to-Work” is not the solution that New Hampshire working families need. In the coming days, we urge workers in every industry across the state to contact their legislators and let them know that this so-called “Right-to-Work” legislation is wrong for New Hampshire.”
Senator Lou D’Allesandro Slams “Right-to-Work” Supporters For Not Listening To Concerned Citizens
Senator Lou D’Allesandro has always stood with New Hampshire working families. His words on the Senate floor regarding the Senate Commerce Committee’s decision to immediately vote to pass SB11-FN (so-called “Right-to-Work”) out of committee before reading or researching any of the submitted testimony show that he understands the importance of unions to a prosperous middle class in the Granite State. Sadly a majority of his fellow Senators don’t care about good wages and benefits for the working class and passed the bill 12-11.
The New Hampshire AFL-CIO would like to thank those Senators who voted to defeat the fraudulently-labeled “Right-to-Work” bill in the Senate.
We will need your assistance, voice, and leadership to defeat this in the House of Representatives.
For more information on the fraudulently labeled “Right-to-Work” legislation, CLICK HERE
Joint Statement of the NH Labor Leaders Following the Senate Passage of So-called “Right-to-Work” Legislation
PRESS RELEASE
For NH Workers Facing Impending “Right to Work” Fight, Solidarity Has Never Been More Important
Brothers & Sisters,
As we begin the process of swearing in the winners of November’s election, I know that many of us feel discouraged and tired. Members across New England dedicated thousands of hours of their time to advocate for the election of leaders that would stand up for New Hampshire working families. In an election year where the entire country experienced a wave of GOP wins on the state and federal level, New Hampshire once again defied the norm and will be sending an all female Democratic delegation to Washington D.C.
Unfortunately, despite your tireless effort put into our Labor 2016 election campaign, we are faced with a New Hampshire Republican Party control of our legislature and the Governor’s Office. Although many of us are tired from a hard fought and seemingly endless campaign, we must stay active. We must stay engaged. And most of all, we must stay united.
Governor-elect Sununu has already publicly stated (more than once) that Right to Work legislation is at the top of his agenda. Make no mistake, unless we come together and fight, New Hampshire will be a Right to Work state. Despite the misleading name, so-called “Right to Work” laws do not guarantee anyone a job and do not protect workers’ rights. Right to Work laws prohibit trade unions from collecting fees to cover the cost of contract administration from employees who benefit from the protections of a collective bargaining agreement, but do not join the union. There are different versions of Right to Work legislation, but all Right to Work laws are designed to limit the power of labor unions, and the workers they represent, to negotiate for better pay and working conditions. While supporters typically claim that Right to Work laws are necessary to attract new businesses and increase employment opportunities, rigorous economic studies have failed to validate such claims.
The labor community in the Granite State has an obligation to the rest of New Hampshire working families to fight Right to Work legislation using all of the resources and allies we can organize. And we cannot afford to wait until the new legislative session starts and the Governor-elect becomes Governor. We must start to lay the plans for our opposition today!
As Governor, Chris Sununu will not only have the help of a Republican controlled legislature, but also the help of dark money Super PACs such as those funded by the Koch Brothers and other conservative millionaires. Well-funded Right to Work proponents like the National Right to Work Committee, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Americans for Prosperity will be spending millions of dollars to push an anti-labor agenda.
We all have connections to different allies and a wide variety of resources. The only way that New Hampshire will not become a Right to Work state is if we use our numbers and our voices to stand together, and stand up for New Hampshire working families.
Start talking to your colleagues, fellow members, family members, and friends about what we can do to protect New Hampshire workers and their families from the attacks that are sure to come this legislative session.
The New Hampshire AFL-CIO will stand with its fellow brothers and sisters in the rain, sleet, and snow to protect New Hampshire workers and their future. Let’s get to work!
For more information on Right to Work click here.
For more information on upcoming events regarding organizing our opposition to anti-union attacks, please continue to check our website or email araff@nhaflcio.org
New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Glenn Brackett’s Statement on SCOTUS Decision in FRIEDRICHS V. CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
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HOOKSETT– Glenn Brackett, President of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold four decades of precedent that have protected our public employees:
“The Supreme Court handed working men and women a major victory yesterday,” said Brackett. “Here in New Hampshire, this ruling protects more than 80,000 public employees. The Court’s decision represents a significant blow to the wealthy special interest that seek to control our democracy and undermine the rights of working families in the Granite State. Workers in New Hampshire and across America should take notice of the fact that the same wealthy corporate interests that helped fuel the attacks on workers in Friedrichs are also trying to prevent President Obama from fulfilling his Constitutional duty to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. That is why I am calling on Senator Ayotte to do her job, and demand a full public hearing and an up or down vote in the Senate on Judge Garland’s nomination.”
The plaintiffs in the Friedrichs case sought to destroy public sector unions by forcing them to give free services, such as contract negotiation, to public employees who choose not to join a union. Yesterday’s decision upheld decades of precedent, established in the 1977 case of Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, that prevents free-riding by non-union public employees who benefit from union bargaining efforts. This decision does not in any way alter the requirement that all contributions to political action committees or union political activities must be made voluntarily.
“Yesterday’s decision should make it very clear how important the Supreme Court is to our democracy. We have an obligation to let our Senators, in every state, know that we will not stand for political games when it comes to the Supreme Court. Senator Ayotte should allow President Obama’s nominee to have a timely and fair hearing. The Granite State elected Senator Ayotte to represent our best interests, and it would be in her best interest, to listen to her constituents, and do her job.”
Portsmouth Assistant Mayor Splaine Wants Union Workers Building Sewer Plant
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Portsmouth Assistant Mayor Splaine Wants Union Workers Building Sewer Plant
By Jeff McMenemy
jmcmenemy@seacoastonline.com
PORTSMOUTH — Assistant Mayor Jim Splaine said he will introduce a motion at the April 4 City Council meeting to have the city enter into a project labor agreement for the construction of the city’s new $83.4 million sewer plant on the city-owned Peirce Island.
Splaine explained that if the council ultimately approves the proposal the plant will be built by either union members or workers who have been “union qualified so they would receive union-level benefits.”
“I think it guarantees quality and it guarantees a fair living wage with health insurance,” for the workers on the project, Splaine said Tuesday.
Splaine noted his father was an agent with the union building trades and he believes union workers “will do quality work and I think that’s what we expect in this case.”
Asked if he was concerned that hiring union workers would drive up the cost of what is already the biggest capital project in the city’s history, Splaine said, “No I’m not concerned because we get better quality workers, which means they’ll be more efficient and experienced.”
He acknowledged some have criticized union workers, but he believes they are typically more skilled and more experienced than non-union crews.
“You end up having more efficient people who are more experienced and we can benefit from that,” Splaine said.
City staff agreed at the City Council’s Monday night meeting to look into exactly what a project labor agreement would consist of.
Mayor Jack Blalock said he supports having city staff look into the issue.
But he said he’s still learning about project labor agreements and doesn’t “have any experience dealing with unions or putting out bids on projects.”
“I certainly agree that the staff should look at that,” Blalock said Tuesday.
Tom Hersey, business manager of Labor’s Local 976 in Portsmouth, asked the City Council to consider “that the wastewater plant be built under a project labor agreement.”
The agreement, he said Monday night at the City Council meeting, would “guarantee that all the workers on the job site would be paid the New Hampshire union rate.”
“One thing that you could guarantee by having this built under a project labor agreement is that you’d have a highly skilled, experienced, productive workforce,” he stated.
Even if the city awarded the bid for the project to an out-of-state contractor, they would have to hire “workers that have a connection to Portsmouth and the Seacoast,” Hersey said.
“They would bring with them a sense of pride building that wastewater plant safely, on time and under budget,” Hersey said.
Splaine cast the lone no vote against building the new sewer plant on Peirce Island, which he said should be protected for all its recreational uses.
“I want to make sure that since we’re building this plant on an environmentally sensitive Portsmouth treasure, that it is done right and with care,” Splaine said Tuesday.
NH AFL-CIO President Glenn Brackett Testifies In Opposition To HB 1341, Another Version of “Right To Work” Legislation
Yesterday New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Glenn Brackett stood with numerous members of the New Hampshire labor community in opposition to HB 1341, a bill relative to employee payments to unions. HB 1341 is another attempt by the anti-union wing of the New Hampshire legislature to undermine the existence of organized labor in the Granite State. Below is an excerpt from President Brackett’s testimony:
“House Bill 1341 would establish a statutory right for all public and private sector workers, who are not union members but are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, to divert payment for the total amount of their union agency fees to a charity, for any personal reason, regardless of the negotiated terms of the agreement.
All New Hampshire employees covered under a collective bargaining contract already have a full legal right to redirect their union fees to charity based on legitimate religious objections. We are forced to conclude, therefore, that the true intent of House Bill 1341 is to weaken the collective voice of New Hampshire workers who benefit from representation by a labor union.”
House Bill 1341 is not a legitimate mechanism for increasing aid to charitable causes. To paraphrase William Shakespeare, so-called “right-to work” legislation called by any other name still smells like “right-to-work.” This bill, if passed, would allow those individuals that choose to have their union fees diverted to charity, to still take full advantage of the protections given by the union and collective bargaining agreement. The members that pay into their labor organization so that they can both protect and be protected in the workplace would be forced to shoulder the cost of those who opt out of the payments. This is not a fair burden to place on working families that already struggle to make ends meet and provide for their loved ones.
As New Hampshire
AFL-CIO President Brackett put it:
“House Bill 1341 offers no meaningful benefits to New Hampshire’s economy, workers or businesses. I urge members of the committee to vote this legislation ‘Inexpedient to Legislate.’”