Wow, the public sector unions (OK, actually the union bosses) sure are afraid of the right-to-work bill passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and vetoed by Gov. John Lynch; their frantic, defensive reaction tells us so.
The freedom that this legislation would provide is something we often overlook – but we cannot ignore. A good number of people in unions have told me, in strict confidence, that they hope the override passes. Why? Right to work actually forces union bosses to weigh every decision they make against the benefit of their members, not their own interests or political ideology. What incentive do these bosses have today, when they know that every worker automatically will be a paying member, or at least a paying non-member?
Moreover, what incentive does the individual worker have to stand against a dysfunctional union, often in isolation and in fear of retribution, and still be forced to pay hefty agency fees? Absolutely none.
Right to work is poised to liberate the public employee community as a whole. Workers would not only retain the right to form and join a union, they would have a leadership that has never been more accountable to them, as constituent members, vigilant to keep membership something worth the price of admission. And if the union does not live up to expectations, they can opt-out in groups, keeping their hard-earned fees, and be less concerned about retribution.
All of this sounds very American to me.
Tom Flaherty
Milford