(The Center Square) – New Hampshire lawmakers have shot down a proposed right to work law seeking to limit labor unions from collecting dues from nonmembers, but backers of the plan are vowing to keep pushing for its approval.
The proposal, rejected 200-180 in the state House of Representatives, would have allowed unionized workers in the private sector to opt out of paying their dues even while continuing to receive the benefits of a collective bargaining agreement. Several Republicans joined with Democrats to "indefinitely postpone" consideration of the bill, effectively spelling its demise this legislative session.
Backers of the proposal, like the New Hampshire chapter of Americans for Prosperity, criticized it's rejection by lawmakers and vowed to "hold lawmakers accountable for voting against worker freedom" and continue to work to expand support for the changes. The pro-business group lobbied hard for the bill's passage, framing it as a way to "protect worker freedom" and improve the state’s economic competitiveness.
“Unfortunately, lawmakers have rejected an opportunity to stimulate more economic growth by continuing to deny private sector workers in New Hampshire the same right enjoyed by government employees," Greg Moore, AFP-NH's regional director, said in a statement. "But the fight for worker freedom doesn’t end here."
Right to work legislation has been debated in New Hampshire for decades but has failed to win enough support to become a law. The Legislature...
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