Granite State Taxpayers Supports Right to Work House Bill 238.
House Bill 238 would prohibit collective bargaining agreements from requiring employees to join or contribute to a labor union.
We support Right to Work for several reasons:
– Workers should be free to decide whether or not to join a union, depending on their interests.
– Regulating private sector relationships is not a proper role of government.
– The benefits to Right To Work states are overwhelming in comparison to forced-union states.
Granite State Taxpayers supports laws that expand freedom of choice for citizens and workers, improve the business climate and make New Hampshire a more attractive place to live and invest in, thereby growing the economy and job market, increasing the competition for workers and driving up wages.
It’s no secret that businesses prefer Right To Work (RTW) states in which to locate new plants. Those investments drive greater employment, and competition for employees puts an upward pressure on wages. Greater business activity benefits the state with additional tax revenue.
The National Institute for Labor Relations Research issued their Right to Work Benefits Fact Sheet Winter 2025, which shows that RTW states out pace Forced Unionism states:
– Percentage Growth in Number of People Employed (2013-2023) 16.0% to 8.3%
– Growth in Manufacturing, Private-Sector Employment (2013-2023) 12.3% to 2.5%
– Percentage Growth, Private-Sector, Non-Farm Employment (2012-2022) 28.6% to17.8%
– Per Capita Disposable Income (Adjusted by State Cost-of-Living) (2023) $59,329 to $56,525
– Welfare (TANF) Recipients per 1,000 Residents (FY 2023) 1.1 to 3.9
The Right To Work states benefit from higher job growth and higher disposable income.
Labor unions are businesses that represent workers, much like agents represent actors or professional sports players. In NH, workers may be forced to join a union, or pay its dues, as a condition of employment. What makes a labor union (as a business) deserving of government support by requiring participation? If unions provided real value to workers, their membership would grow even without government statutory support.
Granite State Taxpayers recommends a vote FOR House Bill 238.
House Labor Committee will hold a hearing on HB 238 will be held on Wednesday 1/22/25 at 10:00 AM in the Legislative Office Building Room 210. Consider attending and testifying in support of HB 238.
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Posted by: Ray Chadwick, Board Member
Granite State Taxpayers