AFT St. Louis, Local 420

AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin- 2017-02

On Tuesday, January 10, hundreds packed Reps Hall in the State House for the Senate Commerce Committee public hearing on SB 11, the proposed “right to work” legislation. From 1 pm into the evening, a long line of witnesses, including Senators, Representatives, labor leaders, and working people (union and non-union) spoke against so-called “right to work” legislation. They pointed out that it would bring no new economic investment to NH, would inject the State into the negotiations process, and was simply an attempt to financially cripple labor unions and thereby weaken their ability to better the working conditions and the lives of those they represent. And then, at the end of the day, without taking any time to consider evidence presented, the Committee voted 3-2, along strict party lines, to send SB 11 onto the Senate, with a recommendation of “ought to pass.”

Join AFT Healtcare Maryland and MPEC members in Annapolis to speak directly to your representatives concerning issues affecting state employees.

January 23rd

February 27th

March 20th

RSVP Here: https://leadernet.aft.org/webform/mpec-aft-healthcare-lobby-nights

Tom Price will Dismantle the ACA

A message from AFT President Randi Weingarten:

Letter from President - Recent Events (January 13, 2017)

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

The NTU/NPS negotiations teams met yesterday. The next meeting will be scheduled soon. The NTU Negotiations Team advises the membership to continue to “support the Respect the Contract Initiatives Phases I & II, write your legislators and prepare for January 19th Day of Action.” At today’s Bldg. Rep. Mtg. we will be providing details for the Day of Action.

A new report issued by the Economic Policy Institute, January 12, 2017 shows clearly that passing a so-called Right to Work law will only hurt the NH advantage. In 201l, we successfully fought off attacks and were supported by Governor Hassan’s veto on RTW. In 2012, Indiana passed a right to work bill. In a nutshell, “NH’s economy is stronger and our citizens are better off”. The link to the article is provided below. You can link to the full report here.

“In 2011 and 2012 two states, New Hampshire and Indiana, debated the same bill: so-called “right-to-work” legislation, pushed by corporate lobbyists and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), designed to weaken unions financially and pave the way for greater corporate dominance of state politics. New Hampshire’s governor vetoed the bill in 2011. Indiana, by contrast, enacted it in 2012. It is instructive to compare the two states. By almost any measure, the economy of New Hampshire is stronger and its citizens are better off, on average, than the citizens of Indiana. Right-to-work did not improve the Indiana economy relative to New Hampshire’s, and no one should be fooled into thinking that passing right-to-work now will improve the New Hampshire economy."

Lobby Night in Annapolis

Join AFT-Maryland for
LOBBY NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS
Monday, January 30th, 2017

Buses will depart from AFT-Maryland at 5:15 p.m.
4701 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215

Sandwiches & Soft drinks will be provided on the bus.

For more information and to RESERVE YOUR SEAT on the bus, contact Todd Reynolds (443)320-4719 or treynolds@aftmd.org.

IN ADDITION....

Protect Public Education! AROS Day of Action Jan. 19th

JOIN US for a Day of Action
Thursday, January 19, 2017

as we STAND TOGETHER in SOLIDARITY to
PROTECT PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Our Students, Our Schools, Our Communities.

Gather at 3:45 p.m.
City Springs Elem/Middle School
100 S Caroline St., Baltimore 21231

Help us DEFEND public education for all.

On Thursday, Jan. 19, thousands of AFT members and allies nationwide will demonstrate...

Breaking News-Senate Commerce Committee by 3-2 Vote Recommends Passage of RTW

The NH State Senate Commerce Committee, after hundreds appeared in opposition at a public hearing today, have recommended passage of the so-called Right to Work bill by a vote of 3-2.

We thank Senators Donna Soucy and Bette Lasky for voting against this bill fueled by out of state interests. This union busting legislation will proceed to the full Senate for a vote. It is clear that the NH Senate republicans have put this bill on a fast track.

Stay tuned for updates and gear up to fight this battle until the last vote is counted. We stand together to fight for NH working families and for strong unions.