New Hampshire: The Real Facts

Today in Concord, House Democrats rubber-stamped Big Labor’s initiative to eliminate inconvenient” workplace secret ballot elections of all employees to decide whether to form a union, opening the door to the intimidation and strong-arming of employees.
“Taking away employees’ right to a secret ballot election strikes at the very heart of American democracy. How can Democrats, in good conscience, deny New Hampshire workers their fundamental right of privacy and free speech as enshrined in the secret ballot process?” asked Republican Leader Michael Whalley (R-Alton Bay).

In a party-line vote, Democrats replaced secret ballots with a “card check” process that requires only “written majority authorization” in order to form a collective bargaining unit. “This law strips workers of their protection from harassment by union officials and pro-union coworkers. Before, a worker could voice their opposition privately with a “no” vote. Don’t think for one moment that those who don’t sign the pro-union cards will be spared a hostile work environment,” said Rep. Will Infantine (R-Manchester), a member of the House Labor Committee.

With this vote, New Hampshire House Democrats join Congressional Democrats, including Shea-Porter and Hodes, in turning their backs on an American democratic tradition and the American labor movement tradition of secret ballot elections that has stood since 1946. “SB 216 is an anti-democratic initiative that is a slap in the face to our hard-working New Hampshire workers. I think it is rather hypocritical for unions, who supposedly fight for fair worker treatment, to deny these same workers a fair secret ballot process,” said Labor committee member Rep. Gary Daniels (R-Milford).

The bill also would allow 180 days to certify the pledge cards, far exceeding the current practice of 45 days to hold an election.

“Sounds like the democratic process has become too messy and inconvenient for the Democrats and their union contributors,” said Rep. Jason Bedrick (R-Windham).