26 May 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adrienne Rupp
Business and Industry Association
Office: 603.224.5388 x114
Mobile: 603.731.7754
arupp@nhbia.org
BIA to legislators: Right to work good for New Hampshire
Statewide chamber urges legislators to override Lynch veto of HB 474.
CONCORD, N.H. – May 23, 2011 – The Business and Industry Association – New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate – is urging legislators to support “rightto-work” legislation and vote on Wednesday to override Gov. John Lynch’s veto of HB 474. Under HB 474, employees would have the right to choose whether to financially support a labor union and could not be required to pay fees to a union should a company become unionized.
According to BIA President Jim Roche, this bill is good for employees and good for business, and has the support of businesses throughout New Hampshire.
“Employees should have the freedom to choose whether or not to belong to a labor union,” said Roche. “Employers in New Hampshire and around the country support a right-to-work law and, in fact, use it as a factor in making business decisions about where to expand.”
There are 22 right-to-work states and 28 states that require compulsory union membership. Data show that, over the past decade, right-to-work states have grown faster than their union-shop counterparts in nearly every respect, including gross state product, personal income, population and payroll.
Roche maintains HB 474 would put New Hampshire at a competitive advantage in terms of retaining and attracting businesses, as New Hampshire would be the only right-to-work state in the Northeast.
“We expressed our support of HB 474 in a letter to the governor, asking him not to veto the bill,” continued Roche. “He did not agree with us, so we are imploring the New Hampshire Legislature to pay attention to what businesses are saying about right to work and vote yes to an override.”
Many New Hampshire employers support right-to-work legislation. Examples of some who are publicly on record 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.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Roche. “Many companies support right-to-work laws, but, for various reasons, choose not to publicly voice their support.”
The BIA is encouraging members to contact legislators in their districts about HB 474.
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About the BIA: The Business and Industry Association is New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate. The BIA represents more than 400 members in a variety of industries, including advanced manufacturing, high technology, professional services, financial services, health care, hospitality and tourism, public utilities, higher education and insurance. Member firms employ 86,000 people throughout the state and contribute $4.5 billion annually to the state’s economy. Through advocacy with state legislators and regulators, the BIA works to promote a healthy business climate and robust economic future for New Hampshire.
The BIA’s 2011 public policy priorities include: preserving the New Hampshire Advantage through support of fiscally conservative state budgets with a business-friendly tax structure; supporting business tax incentives that foster economic growth; supporting infrastructure development; supporting efforts to increase the availability and affordability of housing for working people; supporting fair and balanced labor rules and regulations that carefully consider the rights and responsibilities of workers and management; supporting efforts that enhance outcomes and reduce/slow the growth of total healthcare costs for employers and the state; supporting efforts to develop New Hampshire’s future workforce; working towards mitigating the rising cost of energy; supporting efforts to expand telecommunications infrastructure throughout the state; and supporting environmental policies, legislation and administrative rules that balance economic development with the long-term viability of the state’s natural resources. For more information about the BIA, visit http://www.nhbia.org.