84 New Hampshire Faith Leaders Sign Anti-'Right-to-Work' Letter

(See the full statements from faith leaders at nhchurches.org/sb61)

We, the undersigned leaders and members of diverse New Hampshire faith communities, call on you to vote S.B. 61 as inexpedient to legislate.

We reject this bill based on the united voice of our many faith traditions, including Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Protestant and Unitarian Universalist members.

In the words of four New Hampshire rabbis:
As Faith in Public Life wrote in an amici curiae brief in the Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, “labor unions are critical components of a just society.” They added, “religious authors have long recognized that effective bargaining requires an effective means for unions to collect the funds that they need to operate.”

The “right to work” bill, S.B. 61, is an attempt to weaken the ability of working people to organize. It would divide workers wherever unions exist so that their collective voice is substantially diminished. As Jews, we stand with all working people and oppose S.B. 61.

The Catholic Diocese of Manchester answered “no” to these questions with the following conclusion: Does SB 61 benefit the common good? Does SB 61 provide a just balance between the interests of workers and the interests of employers? Does SB 61 protect the natural right of workers to assemble and form associations?

In our view, SB 61 would have the effect of substantially diminishing the ability of unions to carry out their duties, and we think that these questions produce answers in the negative. Therefore, we respectfully oppose SB 61,and we ask that you recommend it as inexpedient to legislate.

Finally, the New Hampshire Council of Churches wrote -
All of [our] traditions express Biblical and historic support for labor unions and the right of workers to organize for better conditions.

The “right to work” bill, S.B. 61, is an attempt to weaken the ability of working people to organize.... It would divide workers wherever unions exist so that their collective voice is substantially diminished. All of the Council’s traditions urge that we support labor unions and collective bargaining and to strengthen (not weaken) them when we are able.

Standing in solidarity with New Hampshire faith communities and working families, we urge together that the House oppose S.B. 61 and again defeat “right to work” in our state.

Rev. Jason Wells, NH Council of Churches

Bishop A. Robert Hirschfeld, Episcopal Church of New Hampshire
Rev. Gordon Rankin, New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ
Bishop James Hazelwood, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, New England Synod
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
Ahmed Gabir, Muslim, President of Sudanese Community of New Hampshire, Manchester
Rev. Allen Hoyt, First Congregational Church (UCC), Milford
Rev. Allison Palm, Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua
Rev. Amanda Lape-Freeberg, The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College (UCC), Hanvoer
Rev. Andrew MacLeod, Bristol United Church of Christ
Sister Assunta Riley, Sisters of Mercy, Nashua
Barbara Carbonneau, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Goffstown
Rabbi Beth D. Davidson, Auburn
Rev. Bill Beardslee, United Church of Christ, Warner
Rev. Bill Petersen, All Saints Episcopal Church, Wolfeboro
Candace Cole-McCrea, Gonic Friends Meeting, Milton
Rev. Celeste McQuarrie, Concord
Rev. Cheryl L. Meachen, Wesley United Methodist Church, Concord
Rev. Cheryl Moore, Episcopal Church, Bow
Deacon Chris Potter, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Manchester
Claudia Istel, Secretary, Economic Justice Mission Group, NH Conference of the United Church of Christ, Acworth
Rev. Curtis E. Metzger, Episcopal Church, Littleton
Rev. Cynthia Bagley, The United Church of Christ in Keene
Rabbi Daniel Aronson, Congregation Ahavas Achim, Keene
Rev. David Grishaw-Jones, Community Church of Durham
Rev. Dr. Dawn Berry, First Congregational Church of Hopkinton (UCC)
Denise Ginzler, Monadnock Quaker Meeting, Greenville
Venerable Derek Scalia, Episcopal Church, Keene
Sister Eileen Brady, Sisters of Mercy, Nashua
Rev. Eliza Tweedy, First Church Congregational, Rochester
Elizabeth Marshall, Monadnock Quaker Meeting, Rindge
Rev. Elsa Worth, St. James Episcopal Church, Keene
Rev. Emily Burr, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Plymouth
Rev. Dr. Emily C. Heath, Congregational Church (UCC), Exeter
Ethel McConaghy, United Church of Christ, Center Barnstead
Evan A. Oxenham, Chair of Leadership Team, Meriden Congregational Church, Plainfield
Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney, Meriden Congregational Church (UCC)
Rev. Heidi C. Heath, United Church of Christ, Exeter
James L. Giddings, Monadnock Quaker Meeting, Greenville
Jana Sellarole, Walpole United Church of Christ
Rev. Jennie Anderson, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Norwich, VT
Pastor Jennifer Savoy, Weare
Jeremiah T Dickinson, Dover Friends Meeting
Rev. John Gregory-Davis, Meriden Congregational Church (UCC)
Rev. John Hogue, United Church of Christ, N. Conway
Rev. Jonathan K. Hopkins, Concordia Lutheran Church, Concord
Chaplain Judith A. Wood, Hopkinton
Rev. Kate Harmon Siberine, Grace Episcopal Church in East Concord and the Episcopal Mission of Franklin, Franklin
Kate Kerman, Clerk, Ministry and Counsel, Monadnock Quaker Meeting, Marlborough
Rabbi Kaya Stern-Kaufman, Portsmouth
Rev. Kendra Ford, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter
Kevin Woolley, Monadnock Quaker Meeting, Fitzwilliam
Khalil Abdullah, Upper Valley Muslim Community, Lebanon
Rev. Kimberly S. C. Hester, Christ the King Lutheran Church (ELCA), Nashua
Rev. Kurt A Walker, Deerfield Community Church
Lindsay Dearborn, Clerk, Peace and Social Concerns Committee, Hanover Friends Meeting,
Sister Madonna Madonna, Sisters of Mercy, Manchester
Maggie Fogarty, American Friends Service Committee, Concord
Margaret Hawthorn, M. Div., Monadnock Quaker Meeting, Rindge
Sister Mary Ellen Foley, Sisters of Mercy, Manchester
Rev. Mary James, United Church of Christ, Durham
Rev. Michael F. Hall, Keene Unitarian Universalist Church
Michael Sauve, Episcopal Church, Loudon
Rev. Patrick McLaughlin, Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester
Peter G. Henry, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Londonderry, NH
Rabbi Peter S. Levy, Derry
Rabbi Rabbi Robin Nafshi, Temple Beth Jacob, Concord
Rev. Rev. Kate Atkinson, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Concord
Rev. Robert Grabill, Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, UCC, Hanover
Rev. Robert Vodra, First Congregational Church of Dunbarton
Ron Rene, Eckert Catholic Worker, Manchester
Sister Rosemary Burnham, Sisters of Mercy, Hudson
Sandra Straus, Missions Chairperson, United Church of Christ, Madbury
Rev. Scott Masters, Asbury United Methodist Church, Keene/Chesterfield
Deacon Stephen Ekerberg, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Concord
Rev. Susan Gregory-Davis, Meriden Congregational Church (UCC)
Rev. Susan P Thomas, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lebanon
Rev. Tara Olsen Allen, Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Brentwood
Rev. Teresa Gocha, Episcopal Church of the Messiah, N. Woodstock
Thomas M. Julius, Chairperson, Monadnock Interfaith Project, Gilsum
Rev. Traceymay Kalvaitis, United Church of Christ in Harrisville and in Dublin
Tristan K. Husby, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalist Action NH, Nashua
Cantor Wendy Shermet, Emerita Temple Israel, Omaha NE, Gilford
Rev. William Exner, Episcopal Church, Goffstown