Jeff Padellaro is secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 633.

The people of New Hampshire represent America’s most cherished values: courage, optimism and hard work. From a lifetime spent living and working in this amazing state, I am more optimistic than ever that we have a bright future – and that’s in no small part because our lawmakers recognize that “right to work” stands absolutely opposed to our proud heritage.

Members of New Hampshire’s House of Representatives recently discarded House Bill 238 (HB 238), which would have imposed “right to work” on the citizens of our state. This bill was crafted by rich executives and greedy lobbyists who wanted to destroy our economy and plunder our pocketbooks. And this wasn’t the first, second or even third time that big money interests have tried to pass a “right to work” bill like HB 238. It was the 40th.

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, “right to work” advocates are clearly unwell. That might be true, but they certainly aren’t stupid. They know that unions are the last line of defense for workers in an economy that has been stripped bare by modern day robber barons. They know if they can trick workers into giving up their liberties, then they will be much better positioned to take advantage of them on the job.

In each and every state that has enacted these shameful laws, we have seen time and again how the rights of all workers have been diminished – not just union workers. Five states have passed “right to work” in the last 20 years: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia and Wisconsin. And in each of these states, hardworking men and women have needlessly suffered.

Not only have unions had a harder time organizing new members and securing strong collective bargaining agreements, but workers across the board have seen their wages stifled. So at a time when the cost of living is only going up, “right to work” makes it harder for everyday Americans to pay for groceries, medical bills and other necessities. And beyond wages, workers in “right to work” states have weaker retirement security, worse health care and higher rates of workplace injuries and fatalities.

When it’s all said and done, these laws lead to nothing but increased corporate welfare for multibillion-dollar companies. Because of the failure of greedy executives to treat their employees with decency, taxpayers like you and me are forced to shell out our hard-earned money.

Given the waste, abuse and hardship that always follow “right to work” laws, it’s no surprise that we have so often seen bipartisan opposition to these proposals when they have come up in the New Hampshire legislature. This year, the Teamsters Union worked closely with both Democratic and Republican politicians to push back on HB 238, including Rep. Stephen Pearson (R-Derry), a union firefighter who successfully brought the motion that sidelined HB 238.

While we successfully fought back “right to work” in New Hampshire this year, we must remain vigilant. Union workers throughout our great state know that greedy executives with deep pockets will pull out every weapon in their arsenal to extract more money from their workers.

If we want to maintain New Hampshire’s proud heritage of strength, patriotism and community, then we must be prepared to fight when “right to work” is inevitably proposed again. And when it is, I promise you that the Teamsters Union will be ready to do whatever it takes to keep it out of our state.