Rep. Mark King

Here it is, again. SB61 is boilerplate from ALEC, part of the Koch network – a a union, a collective of corporations seeking to define public policy.

SB 61, misleadingly named “Right to Work” (RTW), has a long history that explains the purpose of the bill clearly. Its’ proponents speak of individual freedom, of liberty. Listening to these folks when they are not spouting talking points is highly informative.

From the start I should mention that I’m a proud union member. I work under contract. I know what my working conditions will be. I know I’m paid fairly. We’ve negotiated paid sick time and healthcare. The union protects everyone in the bargaining unit equally.

The person who first widely promoted so called Right to Work, in the early 1940’s, was White supremacist Vance Muse. He spouted this foul quotation: “From now on, white women and white men will be forced into organizations with black African apes whom they will have to call ‘brother’ or lose their jobs.” He was instrumental in getting the first two states, Florida and Arkansas, to legislate Right to Work.

As I’ve said, the history of the Right to Work itself explains the “values” of the bill. Right to Work is an effort to keep employees separated and powerless in the workplace, while elevating employers’ profits. Union workers are paid the same for the same work, no matter gender, race, sexuality or religion. Unions are participatory democracy in the workplace. Workers have contracts, which give them rights and ensures decency, stability and dignity can flourish.

No one is forced to join a union. Under Federal Law, Unions must protect all bargaining unit workers. As a former local union president, I’ve noted workers who are self centered often have job issues, and are happy to use the union to their benefit- without joining- and without paying the simple administrative fees associated with their union protections.

Union members tend to be aware of how laws effect them- and they tend to vote in their best interests. You may have noticed by now a correlation between those making it harder to vote and RTW advocacy. These are people who obviously don’t trust democracy or democratic processes.

Here is another telling quotation, this voiced by Reed Larson, speaking of his work as president for 45 years of the National Right to Work Committee and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation:

“This has been an opportunity for me to have the greatest impact in defeating the entity I feel is very detrimental to individual freedom…. The unions are for more government, more taxes, more regulation, and they operate under a set of rules and laws that are designed to give special privileges to organized labor.”

He proudly fought against those standing up for better pay and working conditions? The fight for the free individual to be subservient and underpaid is fight not usually bragged about. Did you notice Larsen is against government regulation- unless the state intervention does his bidding?

It seems absurd that corporations are working collectively to give states authority to interfere in our interactions with our employers. Employees coming together for their shared good, he suggests, are seeking special privileges. Again, he doesn’t make sense to me. Employers and unions bargain, and they both win. Workers get say in their employment, businesses have a smoother experience with their workers. Win/Win.

I hope SB61, Right to Work, and legislation like it are voted Inexpedient To Legislate, killing the bill. I get a sense from some of my fellow legislators that getting the states’ nose into our business increases their personal visibility and power. I represent Ward 6, Nashua. I want what is best for my city, my state and my country. I want the keep the freedom that comes with living in our free bargaining state.

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