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Lance Mazzariello is a member of Carpenters Local 328 and a vice president with Specialty Services of New England. He and his family live in Derry, New Hampshire. This week, his piece (listed below) on so-called “Right to work” legislation was published in the Manchester Union-Leader.

‘Right-to-work’ legislation aims to undermine NH workers and families.

NO LAW should work to subvert the ability of workers to come together for a common good.

That’s the reality New Hampshire faces as right-to-work legislation rears its head again. I’m disgusted having to write this, but I am compelled and steadfast in my resolve that this legislature is wrong for New Hampshire and our nation at large.

The phrase “right-to-work” may sound empowering, but it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Its roots stretch back to a time of segregation and systemic racism when its true intent was to divide workers and suppress their collective power. Let’s take a closer look at why this fight matters and why New Hampshire must reject these laws once more.

Racist origins of right-to-work

Right-to-work laws first emerged in the mid-20th century, gaining traction in the American South. This was an era marked by Jim Crow laws and efforts to uphold racial segregation. Labor unions, particularly those aligned with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), were fighting to unite workers across racial lines, advocating for fair wages and equitable treatment for Black and White workers alike. This solidarity threatened the deeply ingrained segregationist power structure.

Figures like Vance Muse, a prominent proponent of right-to-work laws, didn’t hide their motives. A Texas political lobbyist, anti-unionist, and racist, Vance Muse popularized the “right to work” during the 1930s as a way to disrupt unions and blockade pathways to prosperity for Black Americans. Muse warned that integrated unions would disrupt the “Southern way of life” by promoting equality for Black workers. For Muse the “Southern way of life” was a euphemism used to defend segregation, and to bolster systemic racial inequalities. These laws became a tool to weaken unions, ensuring that collective bargaining efforts to uplift all workers — especially minorities — were undermined.

The stakes for NH workers

Today, the rhetoric around right-to-work laws has shifted, but their impact remains the same: they weaken unions, erode worker protections, and exacerbate inequities. For New Hampshire — a state that has long valued its independent spirit and strong workforce — the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Weakened worker protections: Right-to-work laws allow employees to opt out of paying union dues while still benefiting from union-negotiated contracts. This “free rider” problem drains resources that unions need to effectively advocate for fair wages, safe working conditions, and job security. The reduction of workplace safety directly correlates to increased workplace fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of workplace fatalities is 54% higher in states with right-to-work laws compared to those without. This significant disparity underscores the critical role that unions play in advocating for and maintaining safe working conditions.

Disproportionate harm to minority workers: Minority trade workers often rely on unions for equitable pay and job protections. Research shows that unionized workplaces significantly reduce wage gaps and provide greater economic mobility for underrepresented groups (Economic Policy Institute, 2020).

Lower wages for all: States with right-to-work laws consistently report lower wages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages in right-to-work states are 3.1% lower than in states without such laws (BLS, 2023).

Threats to apprenticeships and training: Union-funded apprenticeship programs are a lifeline for training the next generation of skilled workers. Right-to-work laws jeopardize these programs by reducing funding, limiting access for workers looking to advance in their trades (National Association of Workforce Boards, 2022).

A call to action

New Hampshire’s workers are its backbone and unions have played a pivotal role in ensuring fair treatment and economic stability. Right-to-work laws threaten to unravel this progress under the guise of worker freedom.

The data is irrefutable: States without right-to-work laws see higher wages, better benefits, and stronger workplace equity. Unionized construction workers in non-right-to-work states earn 28% more than their counterparts in right-to-work states (Economic Policy Institute, 2020). Moreover, unions foster a sense of community and collective power that transcends racial and economic divides — a value New Hampshire has always cherished.

This isn’t just about policy, it is about people. It’s about the carpenter in Manchester, the electrician in Concord, and every worker who relies on their union to fight for their fair share. Right-to-work laws would erode the protections that make this possible, threatening livelihoods and deepening inequities.

New Hampshire has a choice: to preserve its tradition of fairness and equity or to allow policies rooted in division to take hold. Let’s stand together and reject right-to-work laws. By doing so, we honor the dignity of every worker and ensure that New Hampshire remains a place where hard work is rewarded, and the community thrives.

Let me leave you with this: Where, in the Live Free or Die State, do we have room for a law that undermines our ability to come together, stand united, and fight for the good of our people?

Photo: Lance Mazariello, Local 328 member is pictured (center) with Derek Land of Specialty Services of New England (left) and Joe Byrne, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of NASRCC (right).