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 Hello/Intro |
Web Promo |
| HB 474 Right To Work |
Key: Business / Industry |
| Conversation |
Key: Economy |
| Thanks/Goodbye |
Key: Community Politics / Government |
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| Hello/Intro |
Web Promo |
| HB 474 Right To Work |
Key: Business / Industry |
| Conversation |
Key: Economy |
| Thanks/Goodbye |
Key: Community Politics / Government |
| Hello/Intro Return to index of stories... |
HELLO. I'M RICHARD AGER. WELCOME TO NH OUTLOOK. WHEN UNIONS NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT, SHOULD NON-UNION EMPLOYEES BE FORCED TO PAY THEIR SHARE OF THE NEGOTIATION COSTS? THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED HOUSE SAYS NO, AND PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW ANY EMPLOYEE TO OPT OUT OF PAYING EITHER UNION DUES OR NEGOTIATING FEES. SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S A QUESTION OF FREEDOM - A RIGHT TO WORK WHILE CRITICS SAY IT'S SIMPLY AN ATTACK ON UNIONS. THIS WEEK'S SENATE HEARING ON HOUSE BILL 474 DREW A CROWD OF ABOUT 150 - MOST OPPOSED TO THE BILL. |
| HB 474 Right To Work Return to index of stories... |
Bite: 9:04:07 In this economy, it's important to give companies every reason to relocate to NH to create new jobs. This is especially true of manufacturing firms which contribute significantly to the wealth and high-paying jobs of the states in which they reside. From 2003 to 2008, non-farm private-sector employment in right to work states grew by 9% compared to just 4% in non right to work states including New Hampshire. Bite: 9:26:05 HB474, as amended by the House, shifts power away from individual people, away from teachers, away from firefighters, away from police officers, away from factory workers, away from office workers, away from others, and toward the state of NH and other employers. |
| Conversation Return to index of stories... |
JOINING ME AT THE STATE LIBRARY IN CONCORD ARE: REP. PAM TUCKER. DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE NH HOUSE, MARK MACKENZIE, PRESIDENT OF NH AFL-CIO, REP. WILL SMITH, PRIME SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 474 AND DONALD MITCHELL, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR RELATIONS BOARD WELCOME ALL. 1: REP. SMITH. RIGHT TO WORK LEGISLATION HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE - AND EACH TIME IT HAS FAILED INCLUDING YOUR ATTEMPT LAST SESSION. THIS TIME, IT PASSED. OVERWHELMINGLY. WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME? 221-131. 2: MARK MACKENZIE. YOU TURNED YOUR MEMBERS OUT BUT IT MADE LITTLE IMPRESSION ON THE LABOR COMMITTEE OR HOUSE. 3: REP. TUCKER - DID LEADERSHIP TAKE A POSITION ON THIS? 4: DON MITCHELL - SOME BASICS. WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT LIBERTY AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION. YOU SPENT A LOT OF YEARS ADJUDICATING EXACTLY WHAT THE LAW MEANS. FIRST - UNDER CURRENT NH LAW, DOES ANYONE HAVE TO JOIN A UNION IN ORDER TO GET A JOB? I'LL TAKE THE SHORT ANSWER. NOW HOW ABOUT A NON-UNION EMPLOYEE HAVING TO PAY "AGENCY FEES" - THE SHARE OF UNION DUES THAT COVERS THE COSTS OF NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT? I DIDN'T SEE THAT ANYWHERE IN READING THE STATUTES. 5: REP. SMITH -UNDER YOUR BILL: EMPLOYERS COULD NOT DEDUCT UNION FEES FROM THE WAGES OF THEIR EMPLOYEES UNLESS EMPLOYEES SIGN AN AUTHORIZATION. EMPLOYERS MUST POST NOTICES INFORMING EMPLOYEES OF THEIR "FREEDOM OF CHOICE" ANY EMPLOYER OR UNION THAT ATTEMPTS TO FORCE EMPLOYEES TO JOIN A UNION OR TO PAY DUES COULD FACE $1,000 IN FINES FOR EACH OFFENSE AND BE IMPRISONED FOR UP TO 90 DAYS. EMPLOYEES WHO WERE FORCED TO JOIN A UNION OR TO CONTRIBUTE UNION FEES WOULD BE ENTITLED TO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. 6: REP. TUCKER: YOU WROTE AN ARTICLE IN WHICH YOU STATED "FREEDOM OF CHOICE" STATES HAD MUCH GREATER GROWTH THAN "UNION SHOP STATES" …YOU CONCLUDED "WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE SIZE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ECONOMY TODAY IF WE WERE A FREE-CHOICE STATE". BUT LESS THAN 10% OF OUR PRIVATE SECTOR IS UNIONIZED. ARE YOU SAYING THEY ARE SCARING AWAY POTENTIAL BUSINESS INVESTORS? REP. SMITH - THERE WERE LETTERS FROM CONTRACTING COMPANIES OPPOSING THIS BILL. THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR SUBMITTED TESTIMONY THAT IN HIS DEALINGS WITH MORE THAN 2000 BUSINESSES OVER THE YEARS, NO BUSINESS OWNER HAS EVER SAID TO THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. EVEN THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION IS NOT ACTIVELY PROMOTING THIS. I DIDN'T HEAR A SINGLE BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE SPEAK AT THE HEARING FOR THE BILL. SO WHERE IS THE BUSINESS SUPPORT? 7: DON - MORE BASICS: GIVEN THAT THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT TAKES PRECEDENT OVER STATE LAW, WHAT POWER DOES THE STATE GOVT. HAVE TO CONTROL LABOR RELATIONS? IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, ONLY ABOUT 10% OF PRIVATE LABOR IS UNIONIZED. ONLY A DOZEN OR SO SHOPS ARE UNIONIZED HERE. AND IT SEEMS PRETTY PEACEFUL. WHAT IS THE NEED HERE? APPROVAL OF AGENCY FEES GOES BACK TO 1934. OVER TIME, IT HAS BEEN NARROWED. USED TO BE SAME SUM AS UNION MEMBERSHIP. NOW IT IS LESS - UNIONS HAVE TO REPORT WHAT PERCENTAGE GOES TO WHAT ACTIVITY. 8: REP. TUCKER: IT WOULD APPEAR THAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP HAS MADE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS A HIGH PRIORITY ITEM ON ITS AGENDA. IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? WHAT ABOUT THE DISCORD IF YOU PULL THE PLUG - WITH A COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE TO LABOR RELATIONS. THE EXISTING LEGISLATION ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WAS PASSED IN 1975 IN RESPONSE TO LABOR UNREST - LABOR GAVE UP THE RIGHT TO STRIKE IN RETURN FOR THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CLAUSE. TAKING THAT AWAY SEEMS LIKE REWRITING HISTORY. 9: WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, IN NH - THERE ARE 560 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. STATE, COUNTY, SCHOOL, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. WHAT IF YOU STARTED GETTING TWO DIFFERENT UNIONS, OR 3 OR 4 OR MORE - AS VARIOUS EMPLOYEES EXERCISE THEIR NEW RIGHTS OF ASSOCIATION. ISN'T THAT CHAOS? ARE YOU SAYING THESE KINDS OF RIGHTS WILL LEAD TO MORE EMPLOYMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKERS? 10: ONE PERSON AT THE HEARING SAID THE WORKERS AREN'T GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA ANYMORE. THEY'RE GOING TO MEXICO OR CHINA. 11: LET'S DEAL WITH FACTS. BOIL IT DOWN - IF THIS PASSES, WILL IT WEAKEN UNIONS? THEN WHAT? EROSION OF BENEFITS, MIDDLE CLASS. DO YOU THINK THE EMPLOYER IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE WORKER IF THERE IS NO MOTIVATION. SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT AGENCY FEES ARE LEGAL. BIG CATCH OF RED HERRINGS COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA - IS A CONTROLLING CASE - AND BEFORE THAT, MACHINISTS VS. STREET JUSTICE BLACK - TOOK OUT REQUIREMENT TO BE MEMBER OF THE UNION. YOU DON'T GIVE UP ANYTHING. YOU CAN BE A FREE STATER BUT YOU CAN'T BE A FREE RIDER. 12: REP. SMITH: A FEW THINGS STRUCK ME. THIS BILL IS NAMED FOR THE LATE Franklin A. Partin Jr. WHO WAS A DIRECTOR of THE National Right to Work Committee. THE LOBBYIST FOR THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK COMMITTEE WAS WORKING THE ROOM. AND IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT MUCH OF THE LANGUAGE OF WORKPLACE CHOICE BILLS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE VERY SIMILAR. IS THIS A STRICTLY HOMEGROWN EFFORT - OR HAVE YOU GOTTEN ASSISTANCE FROM OUTSIDE NH? THAT'S THE LAST WORD - FOR NOW. THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART. I'M RICHARD AGER. JOIN US AGAIN ON THE NEXT NH OUTLOOK. -30- |
| Thanks/Goodbye Return to index of stories... |
That's all the time we have today on NH Outlook. I'm Richard Ager, I'll see you next time. |
| Web Promo Return to index of stories... |
Did you have a reaction to any of the stories or interviews featured in this program? Did we miss anything or do you have suggestions for future Outlook espisodes? If so, we want to hear from you. Drop us an email at nhoutlook@nhptv.org. As always, you can find these stories and more online at nhptv.org/outlook. Connect with us online. New Hampshire Outlook is available online on demand at nhptv.org/outlook. We've been streaming our programs since Outlook premiered in September 2000. Whether you want to watch this show again, email it to a friend, search and watch past programs or get more information on thousands of stories and topics, you'll find it all at nhptv.org/outlook. |
| Key: Business / Industry Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 4/8/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. When Unions negotiate a contract, should non-union employees be forced to pay their share of the negotiation costs? The Republican-dominated House says no, and passed a bill that would allow any employee to opt out of paying either union dues or negotiating fees. Supporters say it's a question of freedom - A Right to Work while critics say it's simply an attack on Unions. This week's senate hearing on House Bill 474 drew a crowd of about 150- most opposed to the bill. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rod Wendt\United Valley Interfaith Project, Rep. Pam Tucker\ Deputy Speaker, NH House, Rep. Will Smith\ Prime Sponsor, House Bill 474, Mark MacKenzie\President, NH AFL-CIO, Donald Mitchell\Fmr. Exec. Dir, NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board |
| Key: Economy Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 4/8/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. When Unions negotiate a contract, should non-union employees be forced to pay their share of the negotiation costs? The Republican-dominated House says no, and passed a bill that would allow any employee to opt out of paying either union dues or negotiating fees. Supporters say it's a question of freedom - A Right to Work while critics say it's simply an attack on Unions. This week's senate hearing on House Bill 474 drew a crowd of about 150- most opposed to the bill. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rod Wendt\United Valley Interfaith Project, Rep. Pam Tucker\ Deputy Speaker, NH House, Rep. Will Smith\ Prime Sponsor, House Bill 474, Mark MacKenzie\President, NH AFL-CIO, Donald Mitchell\Fmr. Exec. Dir, NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board |
| Key: Community Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 4/8/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 25:00 Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. When Unions negotiate a contract, should non-union employees be forced to pay their share of the negotiation costs? The Republican-dominated House says no, and passed a bill that would allow any employee to opt out of paying either union dues or negotiating fees. Supporters say it's a question of freedom - A Right to Work while critics say it's simply an attack on Unions. This week's senate hearing on House Bill 474 drew a crowd of about 150- most opposed to the bill. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rod Wendt\United Valley Interfaith Project, Rep. Pam Tucker\ Deputy Speaker, NH House, Rep. Will Smith\ Prime Sponsor, House Bill 474, Mark MacKenzie\President, NH AFL-CIO, Donald Mitchell\Fmr. Exec. Dir, NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board |