CONCORD – House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and Rep. Gary Daniels (R-Milford) today offered the following statements on House Bill 323, the Franklin Partin Right to Work Act. The bill failed 212 to 141.
House Republican Leader Gene Chandler
“According to last year’s WMUR Granite State survey put out by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, 71% of New Hampshire adults, favor Right to Work here. That’s because the majority of Granite Staters know that as long as we continue the practice of forced unionism in New Hampshire, we’re going to lose out on many of the job opportunities that could keep them here. In fact, the 2010 U.S. Census reported that almost 16% of New Hampshire’s young adults have left the state over the past 10 years. We have an obligation to our children and grandchildren graduating college to make New Hampshire a competitive place to work again.”
Rep. William O’Brien, HB 323 Sponsor
“No private organization, including unions, should be permitted to reach in to the wallets of unwilling state employees who have chosen not to be members of that organization. Those employees deserve to keep their hard earned money and spend it the way they see fit and not forced to contribute to the coffers of union political funds. Simply put, Right to Work is worker freedom. It means more jobs here, more of our friends and neighbors working, and fewer of our families having to leave the state to find suitable employment. You cannot oppose Right to Work and say that you are committed to expanding our economy.”
Rep. Gary Daniels, House Labor Committee
“It’s unfortunate that Democrats and the unions feel the only way they can be successful is to force unwilling employees to financially support them. How far we have strayed from the words of Samuel Gompers, the founder of the American labor movement, when he said, ‘the workers of America adhere to voluntary institutions in preference to compulsory systems, which are held to be not only impractical, but a menace to their rights, welfare and their liberty,’ further noting that ‘no lasting gain has ever come from compulsion.’ Both the New Hampshire chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and The Business and Industry Association (BIA)—New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce—have endorsed Right to Work legislation because they know businesses across New Hampshire and the nation want it. New Hampshire companies that have come out publicly in support include C3 Supply LLC, Cirtronics Corp., Elektrisola Inc., Jarvis Cutting Tools, New England Wire Technologies, New Hampshire Central Paper Products, Novus Public Affairs, Sturm Ruger and Co., Turbocam International, Warner Power and Wire Belt Co.”