Cylan Gosselin

My name is Cylan Gosselin. I am a resident of Lempster, New Hampshire, a professional firefighter/paramedic, and a proud member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to HB1704. As a public safety professional, collective bargaining is not simply about wages or benefits, it is fundamentally about safety, staffing standards, training requirements, working conditions, and the ability for first responders to advocate for the resources necessary to protect both ourselves and the communities we serve. The strength of these protections depends on unified representation through our union. HB1704 would allow public employees to bargain individually with employers outside of the collective bargaining framework. While this may appear to increase flexibility, in practice it weakens the collective voice that ensures fair, consistent, and safe working conditions for all public employees. Fragmenting representation undermines solidarity, creates inequity within departments, and shifts bargaining power heavily toward employers rather than workers. In emergency services, this has real world consequences. Decisions about staffing levels, shift schedules, safety equipment, health protections, and training standards directly impact patient outcomes and firefighter safety. These are not issues that should be negotiated individually. They require consistent, department wide standards developed through collective bargaining to maintain operational readiness and public safety. Allowing individual bargaining risks creating disparities, favoritism, and pressure on employees to negotiate alone without adequate leverage or protection. This can erode morale, weaken workforce stability, and ultimately compromise the quality of service provided to the public. For these reasons, and in the interest of protecting both public employees and the citizens we serve, I respectfully urge the committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate on HB1704. Thank you for your time and consideration. Cylan Gosselin