The latest effort to expand anti-union “right to work” laws was defeated yesterday in New Hampshire — and UE Local 228 members were in the thick of the fight. Members sent emails and made calls to their legislators demanding that they oppose the legislation, which would have made New Hampshire the first state in the Northeast to legalize free-riding.
“This is a huge win for workers across New Hampshire and a clear failure for union busters trying to weaken our rights,” wrote Local 228 Chief Steward Shane Tassanari in a “victory alert” in the local’s Facebook group. “Thank you to everyone who took action, contacted representatives, and stood strong. Together, we made our voices heard and protected the rights we’ve fought for.”
The bill failed on a 200-180 vote in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, with 25 Republicans joining Democrats in voting “no.” Republicans enjoy a 221-177 majority in the House, and control the Senate and Governor’s office as well.
One of the Republicans voting “no” was Rep. Mike Ouellet (Coos-3), who told a Local 228 member who called him that the “right to work people” had spent $8 million on the effort.
In a video sent to Local 228 members on Sunday, Local 228 President Jane Shepard O’Connor noted that “This bill is brought to us by outside sources, lobbyists from outside the state.”
She urged Local 228 members to send emails and make calls to state legislators ahead of the vote, which was expected to be close. “We as UE members have always been strong, we’re proud, and we’re loud,” Shepard O’Connor said. “So now’s the time — be loud, be proud, have your presence known. Call up your representative, the time has come to stop this.”
On the day of the vote, over half a dozen Local 228 members traveled to the state capital of Concord to rally against the anti-union legislation, where they were joined by UE Eastern Region President George Waksmunski. They were in the gallery of the house chambers at the time of the vote, which erupted into raucous cheers when the legislation was not only defeated, but “indefinitely postponed,” effectively prohibiting the bill from coming back again during the current legislature, which will be seated until 2026.
- Learn more about so-called “right to work” laws, how they hurt workers, and how to fight them at the UE Fighting “Right to Work” page.