Right to Work

While we often put up guest posts, most often folks writing them have no problem in signing them.  In this case, the author (who I know personally) has asked not to have their name used because of fear of retaliation by union members given the importance of the issue here in NH as the NH House gathers tomorrow to see if it will override Gov. Lynch’s veto; I have agreed to that request (with a few formatting changes to make it a bit more bloggish).

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Hi Skip –

I’ve said before, if we cannot pass this, to mark my words – it will mark the beginning of the end for the new Repub[lican] majorities in NH. They will literally have handed to their enemies the club to beat them with.

Anyway, I noticed a letter to the editor of the Nashua Telegraph today posted online. It’s by an activist – Tess George -(who does not identify herself as such) and she trots out all of the tired union BS.  I could not resist and so I responded.  I’ve attached my response below and, if there’s anything worth repeating in it, you are welcome to do so.

However – please do not use my name.  Why? Because, to be honest, I fear these guys.   Me, a grown man, a Navy veteran – I fear what they would/could do to me and my family.  Isn’t that reason alone to defang these guys?

My response to Ms. George (with a few minor edits of errors I found after posting):

"Wow – the unions have got their parrots out in full force I see.

First, the letter earlier this week by the aptly named Mr. HACKer, then this letter by Ms. George – UU activist and NEA pusher – and finally the little chirps by these two reliable birds JanLive and Pick6

Sadly – and, frankly, quite dully – all of them have repeated the same, tired Big Union talking points.  They’ve been given these things by their masters and have stuck quite close to the script.  Now I don’t know if they’re stupid, or if they think we’re stupid (Ms. George apparently does some consulting regarding speech giving) – but the distortions and red herrings they’re throwing out on this issue are, at best, profoundly ignorant and , at worst, despicable propaganda.

Let’s try some reality – shall we?

Right To Work – to the thousands of NH residents who support it – has very little to do with "union busting" and everything to do with personal liberty.

Something tells me that Ms. George…

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By Andrew Hemingway, chairman, Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire

When I heard a loud, angry group of firefighters interrupting the business of the Legislature by shouting in unison from the State House gallery, “We protect your families!,” I wondered as a citizen whether to take that as a threat.

I wonder whether it was lost on those firefighters that they were hired and they agreed to protect all families in their districts, regardless of whether that person supports or opposes the Right to Work legislation, regardless of whether someone supports or opposes their regular salary and benefit increases and regardless of whether someone says “thank you” or something quite the contrary for their services.

I also wonder if there are any firefighters out there who wish they could disassociate themselves from the union that supports such raucous behavior with their money, particularly since they must pay their union dues in New Hampshire whether they like it or not. I wonder if any of these firefighters would use the Right to Work legislation to get the job they love without being held hostage by the control and involuntary fees of a third party?

I’ve spoken with teachers who wish they could opt-out of their union, which forces them to pay money toward efforts to keep their pay level with that of their less capable colleagues. Good teachers and their students are harmed by such union rules that prop up poorly performing instructors, but good teachers and students are not allowed to do anything about it. They get to pay for the privilege to be held back.

The private sector unions are not immune from such scrutiny. The autoworkers, for instance, ran General Motors into the ground with their unsustainable demands, which could have cost everyone at the company their jobs, even those who didn’t want to join the union and were happy with a more reasonable arrangement with their employer. Were GM in a Right to Work state, the company could have hired non-union employees willing and able to work for an agreed upon wage and benefit package, and the bailout never would have been necessary.

The bottom line is this: Right to Work legislation allows people to work for the company of their choice according to terms they are willing to accept without being forced by a private, third-party entity to pay for unwanted protection and to follow unsustainable or counterproductive rules.

Not everyone thinks that the unions are do-gooders with everyone’s interest in mind. And even if these folks who chose not to join a union are wrong, they still have the right in a free society to associate or to not associate with whatever organization they choose without interference. Since New Hampshire is not yet a Right to Work state, Granite Staters are being denied that right.

Opponents to the pending Right to Work legislation have said…

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