CONCORD — Republican State Chairman Chris Ager said he’s leading an unprecedented outreach to union leaders seeking to find common ground between the GOP and organized labor.
Ager named a seven-person committee to meet with union officials to come up with recommendations for how the state party could improve relations.
“We have grown closer to labor over the last few years and now we are going to formalize that relationship and outreach,” Ager said at a news conference Thursday.
More than 70,000 residents in New Hampshire worked for unions in 2022 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ager said surveys have concluded “40 to 50%” of union members voted Republican and support was even higher in some races.
“There is no natural distance between Republicans and union members,” Ager said.
Former President Donald Trump has made “putting American workers first” a major part of the GOP platform, Ager said.
“We don’t see an incompatibility between pro-union and pro-business. We think it can go hand in hand in the community,” Ager said.
The committee includes state Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, along with Reps. Fred Doucette, R-Salem, and Arnold Davis, R-Milan.
“For far too long we have been seen as treating unions and their members as our opponents,” Davis said. “This isn’t even close to being true.”
GOP leaders will be attending the union-sponsored annual Labor Day breakfast on Monday.
“We are doing this as a symbol of outreach and an attempt to build a stronger relationship,” Ager said. “No longer should we consider organized labor the opposition.”
Union leaders 'welcome' the invite to talks
Rich Gulla, president of the State Employees Association, called the committee a “significant step” towards fostering a “better dialogue” between GOP and union leaders.
“We welcome this opportunity,” said Glenn Brackett, president of the state chapter of the AFL-CIO union.
Many large labor organizations have already endorsed Democrats for major office for the 2024 election.
More than 15 are backing Democrat Joyce Craig of Manchester’s bid for governor.
Gulla’s group has already recommended, however, that its members consider supporting either Democratic primary rival Cinde Warmington of Concord or Republican Kelly Ayotte of Nashua.
“We are not disappointed at all," Ager said of traditional union support for Democrats. "It is a challenge for us to put policy issues on the table. You can’t do that if you aren’t talking."
For decades, unions have turned out in force against GOP legislation to make New Hampshire a right-to-work state, which would prevent unions from requiring that workers either join a union or pay dues.
The committee isn’t limited to what issues it will discuss, Ager added.
In response, New Hampshire Democratic Party officials said GOP legislative leaders have pursued policies such as right-to-work that targeted union members and tried to weaken worker protections while opposing legislation that could help workers such as raising the minimum wage.
“Supporting New Hampshire workers and the right to organize is a foundational principle to the Democratic Party’s values, and it’s central to our fight to ensure opportunity for all Granite Staters,” Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said.
“We look forward to our new Democratic governor and Democratic legislative majorities working with labor to build a better future for all New Hampshire families."
