New Hampshire unions are planning to picket a gubernatorial debate scheduled for Monday. The picketers are aiming to shed light on a year long effort to organize workers at the Mount Washington Hotel, where the debate is scheduled to be held. NHPR�s David Darman has more.
Several members of the state AFL-CIO say they will picket outside the debate, because the owners of the Mt Washington hotel have resisted efforts to organize kitchen help, cleaning people, and other service workers. Tim Decker, president of the New Hampshire state employees association, says he�s going to picket because the debate should not be held at a place where workers suffer.
03 47 we got to hear first hand some of these kind of heart rendering stories, that some of these workers had. That they experienced there. Some of them are seasonal workers, some of them live right in dorm conditions underneath the beautiful rooms that are being rented out. And, I feel that the forum should held at another location. 03 109
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, or UFCW local 1445 from Massachusetts is trying to organize the workers. The union�s case against the hotel is before the National labor Relations Board. The Union claims workers were intimidated and some wrongly terminated for trying to organize. But Mt Washington Hotel spokesman Bonnie McPherson says those charges are exaggerated.
08 09 they�re welcome to form a union if that�s something that people feel they need here. I think the overall feeling, though, is, there isn�t a need. It really operates as a family. �08 39
Despite the hotel�s stance, the UFCW is hoping to use the debate as a chance to publicize the plight of the Mt. Washington workers. Doug Belanger of local 1445 says the picket also takes advantage of politicians who support the cause of labor.
31 � really the reason for this is, really the basic reason, is we have a number of elected officials who are willing to and I think anxious, to show by deed their support for workers in general.
The labor demonstration at the Mount Washington could have a chilling effect on the gubernatorial debate. It is being sponsored by the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. A staff member of New Hampshire Public Radio is scheduled to moderate it. Democrat Mark Fernald says if there is a picket in front of the hotel, it will certainly affect his decision whether or not to go inside.
17 �there�s no way I would ever cross a picket line. And if indeed they are picketing, then I will stop to talk with the picketers, and talk with them about the future of new Hampshire and my vision for the future of new Hampshire. and the people inside will have to proceed without me. 17 15
Democratic candidate Beverly Hollingworth also says she will not cross the picket line.
At least one local political observer says Fernald, Hollingworth and James Normand, the third Democrat in the field, would be wise to stay out of the debate if there is a picket line to cross. Dante Scala of the Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester says though labor makes up just 10 percent of the state�s workers, democrats need every vote they can get in the current political environment.
20 157 the democratic primary, the gubernatorial primary, hasn�t been getting as much coverage as the republican primary. Labor leaders, could play a significant role in the democratic primary. So, I would think for each of these 3 candidates who are just getting their campaigns off the ground. I�d imagine they�d want to stay in tune with labor leadership in the state of nh. 20 224
While Democratic candidates may be wise to stay outside the debate as long as picketing takes place, Democrats who remain outside will pay a price for missing a forum in the northern part of the state. Even though its still early in the political season, Republicans will have the stage at the Mount Washington hotel all to themselves.
