North Country Debate Downsized Amid Labor Protests

The first candidates? forum featuring all seven gubernatorial hopefuls was downsized after unions raised questions about the mount Washington hotel?s labor practices??Ray Poulin, who worked as a painter at the Mount Washington hotel for six years before being fired?. had been active in trying to organize the more than 500 hotel workers, was among 15 or so union supporters holding placards and signs at the foot of the mammoth hotel?s long winding driveway.??.For Poulin, the issue is simple.

"There?s no future here for the workers?..just for the owners?..There bringing in the ching, and they don?t want to share any."

Poulin was the sole Mount Washington worker at the informational picket??The Other dozen or so picketers, were union officials from Concord and points south??including Massachusetts?.?.The contingent temporally enlarged by the appearance of the forums three democratic no-shows. And though Bev Hollingworth, Mark Fernald and Jim Normand made no claims of a thorough knowledge of the current hotel labor situation?.. all insisted workers legal right to organize must be respected. While Hollingworth provided reporters with a written statement to that effect?.Fernald and Jim Normand launched an impromptu press conference?.

"This is about basic principles?.and we have a management that will not allow democratic processes to go forward?.I? here in solidarity with you. It?s a god day for labor in new Hampshire??"

"Less than one week after mayday?.less that one week after the international day of the worker?.It?s not about trees, it?s not about land it?s about workers."

But the mood inside in the Mount Washington?.where more than 400 north country business people filled the hotel ballroom was far different?.There the three candidates said their participation in the forum was to further the best interests of the state as a whole??and that they promised to participate and wanted to keep their words?...Only Libertarian John Babiarz seemed interested in trying to make attendance an issue?.?.

"These empty seats say it all?.People here are not telling you there side of the story?.I believe you have a right to hear it without being filtered through the press?..Here it is?..from the ones that dare challenge the status quo."

Prime among those challenges?.were what the candidates all called an entrepreneurial approach to state government?..One that would rely heavily on market forces and technology driven efficiencies?..All suggested such strategies might improve New Hampshire?s health care and housing climates??which have both seen steep price increases?..For Babiarz and Keough, entrepreneurial government also means the repeal of the statewide property tax?..Which Bruce Keough called a ?shell game.? And Keough claimed his school funding plan could save the state millions?

"If we target our state aid efficiently to areas that need it the most we have more than enough money without an income tax, a sales tax and we can eliminate the statewide property tax?"

While Cabletron founder Craig Benson stopped shy of calling for a complete abandonment of the property tax, he did say New Hampshire?s tax climate inspired him to relocate Cabletron from Massachusetts?.And Benson said if he elected, he?d ensure similar migrations could triumph over government?s invasive hand..

"We also have to realize that our economy can be made better with more entrprunuership and more people coming to our state to start their businesses?..but more than that, getting gov out of biz?s backsides."

For many that was compelling argument?..Dr. Gerald Parker of Rindge agreed that attracting employers to NH will be crucial?.and says benson is the man to do it.

"He has good presence he?s obviously intelligent?.he?s the best and the brightenst and I?m going to bank on him."

Joan Rice of Glen shared Parker?s enthusiasm??but Parker confessed some dissapointments ..

"I was impressed by all three of them?..and I was a little disappointed by the democrats that they didn?t come in?..and Gordon Humphrey?..But they had their reasons."

Reasons??.But according to some at Mount Washington reasons unsubstantiated by facts?..Hotel spokesperson Bonnie McPherson insists workers are well taken care of, and says there is no labor problem?.

"What we do have is a very good insurance package?401 k we have dental?We have free meals 3 meals aday?.the benefits go on and on?.."

And a casual poll of more than a dozen Mount washington workers revealed no great sense of dissatisfaction.??Megan Rouillard, a four year employee of the Hotel candy store said as far as she knew?..the labor movement was a one man cause?..

"I just know there was one painter?.Ray I think his name is?..He?s the only guy I heard of who wanted it?."

Roullards sentiments were echoed by Steve Charron, a hotel maintenece staffer?.He too enumerated benifts.

"Dental 401k paid vacations they feed us meals we don?t need a uion I think were treated fairly?.And I think we don?t need one?"

And Charron was also candid in his assessment of the spearhead behind yesterday?s protest, former hotel employee Ray Poulin.

"He was bullying people around at work?.You cant? do that on the job?.People don?t come to work to be intindated or be pushed around."

But Poulin is undauted by such criticisms?..he points out that a complaint against the Mount Washington hotel has been filed with the national labor relations board?..Poulin also says the hotel?s law firm has done a good job brainwashing many current employees.

'They hired a union busting lawfirm and just filled people up with propaganda and lies towards the union?'

Democratic candidates are scheduled to hold a forum sponsored by the state employees union this weekend?.Republican candidates had a union sponsored forum last week.