NH biz groups lobby public against union bill

By NORMA LOVE

CONCORD, N.H.

New Hampshire businesses announced the formation of an alliance Thursday to lobby the public against federal legislation that would allow unions to form without secret-ballot elections.

Paul Young, state director of the newly formed Alliance for New Hampshire Jobs, said the so-called Employee Free Choice Act would put new burdens on businesses. Young said businesses would either lay workers off or not hire new workers as a result.

"The reason we oppose it is (that) it is a job killer, plain and simple," Young said at a news conference.

The federal legislation would allow a majority of employees to unionize by signing cards. Currently, employers can require a secret ballot. It also would raise penalties for retaliation against workers seeking to organize and would provide for arbitration if management and the union could not agree on a first contract.

Unions argue that the changes are needed to prevent retaliation; business groups counter that secret ballots are the only way to prevent intimidation by union organizers.

Young said most of the major New Hampshire business groups support the alliance's effort. The New Hampshire Business and Industry Association, the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, the New Hampshire High Technology Council and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association are among the groups opposing the legislation.

The alliance is being funded by the national Workforce Fairness Institute, Young said.

Business and Industry Association President Jim Roche called the legislation "unjustified and inappropriate."

"This is an attempt by organized labor to bolster its ranks," he said.

Eddie Vale, national political communications director for the AFL-CIO in Washington, said arguments opposing the legislation have been used against past efforts to give workers a voice, win wage increases and improve safety. Vale said the ability to use either a ballot or signup exists in current law, but the employer decides which is used. The legislation would give the choice to the workers, she said.

"Many companies already choose to use a signup," Vale said. "They see it as simpler, easier."

Young said the legislation is simply a move to boost unions, but he insisted that the alliance is not anti-union.

"We're not trying to kill unions," he said.

The legislation has been stalled in Congress for months, but Young said New Hampshire businesses can't assume it will die. The alliance planned to mail federal candidates from New Hampshire a survey seeking their position on the legislation, Young said.