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New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper:
07/27/18
07/27/18
Writing for the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper, Ross Connolly and Laura Spottiswood call for the passage of Right to Work:
"AFTER THE landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on worker freedom, Janus v. AFSCME, New Hampshire now has the opportunity to become the first state in the Northeast to pass right-to-work legislation and expand freedom for thousands of workers.
The court found that because collective bargaining with the government affects public policy issues like pension liabilities, taxes, spending and more, it equates to lobbying and thus political speech. Public employees are now protected from having their hard-earned money automatically deducted from their paycheck and directed toward political speech they may disagree with.
It is crucial that our legislators expand this First Amendment protection to private-sector workers in the Granite State, as well. In addition to expanding freedom for thousands of workers, right-to-work brings many economic benefits. There is no doubt that making New Hampshire a right-to-work state will invite more businesses and entrepreneurs to our state. The numbers speak for themselves.
After right-to-work passing in 2017, Kentucky experienced $9.2 billion in corporate expansion and new location projects, with commitments to create more than 17,000 new jobs. Additionally, Kentucky’s exported goods and services totaled $31 billion, an increase of 5.8 percent from the previous year. In Michigan, payrolls increased by 4.5 percent from March 2013 to August 2015 after the state passed right-to-work in 2013.
Other states with right-to-work are feeling the benefits as well. In fact, a 2013 study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy showed states with right-to-work experienced higher economic growth and increased annual employment growth rates.
Right-to-work can bring more workers to our state and help create good paying jobs. When major companies look to build a new facility or relocate, one of the items at the top of their checklist is right-to-work. Moreover, thousands of New Hampshire workers leave the state every day for work. Right-to-work would provide a strong incentive to move jobs into New Hampshire from the surrounding non-right-to-work states and build on the economic success our state is experiencing.
Right-to-work also reaffirms our state motto, “Live Free or Die,” and New Hampshire’s commitment to economic freedom. Besides the government, unions are the only other entity that can deduct dues directly from a worker’s wages without consent. This is wrong and goes completely against our state’s creed and values. We need to put power back in the hands of workers and ensure their freedoms are not being infringed upon.
If we want more freedom, more jobs, and better wages for all Granite Staters, right-to-work legislation should be a no-brainer for New Hampshire.
Ross Connolly is grassroots director for Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire. Laura Spottiswood is a current union member and activist for Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire."
Read more at the Union Leader:
Another View -- Ross Connolly and Laura Spottiswood: Extend worker freedom to all of New Hampshire
New England Citizens for Right to Work has always been organized around a common principle, rather than as an interest group for any particular segment of the population. Similarly, NECRTW is focused entirely on the forced-unionism issue, and therefore takes no position on unrelated legislation.
However, it's always encouraging when others stand up to be counted in the fight against forced unionism. This site will occasionally feature pro-Right to Work content from other groups or individuals. The intent is simply to highlight our common desire to end forced unionism.
Although we're thrilled to have as many voices as possible calling for Right to Work, sharing such material is not intended to be an endorsement of any other organization in any way.
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