#AP #NHHouse votes to bar unions from requiring non-members to pay fair share; gov to veto

NH House passes vote on union legislation

NH House votes to bar unions from requiring non-members to pay fair share; gov to veto 

http://www.ap.org/termsandconditions" style="line-height: 1.22em; color: #1a5488; text-decoration: none;">

• tweet 
• Email
• Print

Norma Love, Associated Press, On Wednesday May 4, 2011, 2:22 pm

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The Republican-controlled House approved legislation Wednesday that would make New Hampshire the 23rd state to bar unions from requiring non-members to pay a share of bargaining and administrative costs.

The House voted 225-140 for the measure, sending it to Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who has promised to veto the bill.

The vote fell short of the two-thirds needed to override a veto, but 31 House members were absent or did not vote, which makes an override still possible. In the GOP-controlled Senate, the bill passed last month with enough votes to override a veto.

The bill would end the practice of allowing unions and employers to negotiate a clause in contracts requiring non-union members to pay a fair share of collective bargaining costs. Under the bill, anyone who intimidates non-members would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $1,000 fine. Anyone harmed by a violation could seek civil damages, including attorneys' fees.

Federal law requires unions to negotiate on behalf of both union and non-union members. Workers do not have to join unions under New Hampshire law.

Lynch spokesman Colin Manning said Lynch will veto the bill.

"The governor has maintained for some time now the so-called right-to-work legislation has the state dictating to private businesses and their employees what should be in their contracts. The governor thinks it should be left up to these businesses and workers. Government should stay out of it," Manning said.

The House did not debate the bill, but each side used a parliamentary procedure to argue for or against the measure.

Rep. Gary Daniels, R-Milford, argued that passing the bill would encourage business to move operations to New Hampshire.

Democratic Rep. Jeff Goley, a Manchester firefighter, countered that many states that ban the requirement have higher unemployment rates than New Hampshire's 5.2 percent rate.

House Speaker William O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, said in a statement after the vote that the bill is the "single greatest opportunity to create jobs in New Hampshire that the Legislature will pass this year." House Republican Leader D.J. Bettencourt agreed, saying he hoped the governor would consider the economic growth the bill will bring to the state.

But Diana Lacey, president of the union that represents most state workers, said the union is counting on Lynch to veto the bill and reject "this attack on the middle class." In a statement released by the State Employees' Association, Magnus Pardoe, a computer technician at Nashua Community College, also expressed opposition.

"These attacks on organized work forces seek to dismantle the very foundations that helped build the entire middle class," he said. "It will hurt not only my family, but the families of our students, neighbors and colleagues as well."