Senate Commerce Committee green-lights right-to-work bill (NH)

[catgirl]

Source: The Union Leader

CONCORD – The Senate Commerce Committee today voted 4-1 to recommend the right-to-work bill be approved by the full Senate.
The vote was down party lines with the four Republicans supporting the bill and one Democrat voting against. The committee amended the bill by stripping a House provision that would remove the requirement public unions bargain for all employees at a workplace.
Committee chair Russell, Prescott, R-Kingston, said unions should not have a problem convincing workers to become members if they do their job representing workers. "This bill would not be a disruption or a drive to the bottom for wages and benefits," he said.
The bill would prohibit unions from charging a worker who does not want to join the union from being charged an agency fee for the cost of negotiating a contract.

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=5ebb5453-8edc-4e4e-ab50-b41e69a85acc&headline=Senate+Commerce+Committee+green-lights+right-to-work+bill

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Thank goodness we have a blue Governor!

I posted an article about behind the scenes threats (republican threatening another republican who opposes this-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x650805

[xchrom]

1. I look forward to it's veto. Nt

[bluestateboomer]

2. The New New Hampshire motto

The New Hampshire Motto should be changed from " Live Free or Die" to "Work Cheap and Die".

[aggiesal]

3. "Right to work" for less!!!

as Thom Hartmann would say.

[Plucketeer]

4. Right to be USED! nt

[Marblehead]

5. Funny how...

some people think "Right to work" is a good thing.

[provis99]

6. read the comments section.

There's no hope for America.

[AllTooEasy]

7. I support unions, BUT I like to know the justification for...

...charging non-union members an agency fee for the cost of negotiating a contract? Basically, if I want to work for company X, I have to join Union X or else??? WTF???

Non-union members simply are/should not be represented at the negotiations. If you don't join the union, you don't get the union benefits/costs...period. If you do join the union, you get the union benefits/costs...period. A person should have the right/freedom to make their own cost/benefits analysis and embrace the ramifications of their decision.

AZ is a right to work state, and yet we still have unions. If you don't want to join, screw you and try dealing with "The Man" on your own. Most stragglers eventually figure out that power comes in numbers.

[julian09]

8. How does seniority work there

Do you get laid off according to when hired or does manager keep his girlfried hired years behind you? When a new job opens does management fill that job with less qualified friend. When you have dispute with management, who defends your rights?
Do they discriminate by age, sex, or race?

[ProudDad]

11. Here in AZ, they discriminate by anything they please

Employers OWN workers here...

It's the 20th/21st century version of slavery...

Pretty soon, the way things are going in our bat-shit crazy legislature, they'll soon be able to shoot Workers...

[AllTooEasy]

16. Slavery - come on?! Next you will be using Nazi references!

Pick up a history book and research true US 19th century slavery before you make a ridiculous statement like that!

Stop insulting the struggles of my ancestors with that crap!!!

[ProudDad]

18. Quit yelling at your potential allies...

I do not denigrate the struggles of the past, in fact, I was an object of the attention Hoover's FBI for working for Civil Rights for Black People...

But what passes for an employer/employee relationship in USAmerica can rightly be called a form of slavery...

Why don't you spend your energy and emotions on the struggle against your real oppressors, the capitalist elites, instead of screaming at a potential ally?

[Zorra]

23. Dude, chill,...take a deep breath, and back away from the coffee maker real slow. nt

[AllTooEasy]

15. Answers to your questions:

Union employees:

Everything depends on the labor contract.

Non-union:

no senority, laid off depends on merit and/or politics, politicalics and nepotism potentially affect hiriing, you have to defend yourself, discrimination is potentially there + include gender preference, alumni affiliation, frat affiliation, and size of your breasts.

Like I asked, if you wish to go that route then why should you still have to pay?

[ProudDad]

13. Because the employers are very good at divide and conquer...

Solidarity is what makes unions strong and effective...

"right to work" laws, especially coupled with nearly impossible to meet requirements for unionization, keep Workers in bondage...

[AllTooEasy]

17. forced solidarity is "bondage" - although that term is over the top

My ancestors were in BONDAGE, in THIS country. Stop insulting the legacy of their struggle!!!

I support unions, but I support Choice (not just with abortion) more. Forcing folks to join or penalizing them to make the union stronger is a gangster tactic. Why not force all 18 yrs old to join the military to make the military stronger?

[ProudDad]

19. You just prove my point

the whole idea of working class solidarity and community is what can uplift us...

Your insistence on buying into the libertarian bullshit that you actually HAVE CHOICES as an individual against the forces of oppression is what keeps the working class in perpetual bondage...

And you might find it easier to work with people if you would throttle your obvious tendency to emotional outbursts about subjects that are irrelevant to the discussion...

"Stop insulting the legacy of their struggle!!!" -- as I said in a post above, you don't know who you're talking to...

[AllTooEasy]

21. My response

Solidarity should be a choice for each individual. How can you argue against that?! Why should anyone be penalized for not joining any group against any opposition. Maybe a person doesn't like a particular union's tactics, thinks the union contract gives too much, is counterproductive, can't afford the union dues, or feel(probably wrongfully) that their talents can negotiate better compensation, etc.

Have you thought about that?

BTW, asking any African American to CALM DOWN(?!?!?!) their emotions on 'slavery' comparisons is unacceptable. Friend or no friend, liberal or not, that's unacceptable. The sweat shop worker in China is having a million times better life than be the best treated slave on any plantation. If you can't see that, then you weren't sufficiantly taught about US slavery.

[ProudDad]

20. Simple

"charging non-union members an agency fee for the cost of negotiating a contract? Basically, if I want to work for company X, I have to join Union X or else??? WTF???"

All Union Shops have better wages, benefits and working conditions than non-union shops...

And your working conditions and wages are a direct result of the Solid Front for negotiating them that the Union represented...

You want to show up at the pot luck empty handed just to eat everyone else's food... :shrug:

[AllTooEasy]

22. "show up at the pot luck empty handed" - response

Read my original statement. If you are NOT part of the union, you don't get the union benefits.

In other words, you don't eat :) You have to munch on your balony and cheese at your desk while the union members eat the collective feast in the breakroom.

I prefer the union, but that's my preference. I'm not the type to force my preferences on others.

[JDPriestly]

9. Now, just how do the Republicans and "moderate" Democrats who support

this think that racing pell mell to the bottom of nations in terms of wages and working conditions will improve our economy for any of us including them?

We should be working to improve our standard of living, not lowering it.

[ProudDad]

12. Actually, thanks to Peak Oil, Catasrophic Global Climate Destabilization and Economic Collapse

We should all be working to relocalize to improve our collective Quality of Life...

That "standard of living" thing ain't gonna survive the collapse and was fucking up the Earth as a viable habitat for air-breathing mammals anyway...

[ProudDad]

10. From the Labor Dictionary: "right to work" = license to FUCK OVER workers...(n/t)

[GeorgeGist]

14. Where are the jobs ...

that folks have the right to work? Assholes!