AUGUSTA — A special federal audit has found no evidence of bias or undue political influence in the outcomes of unemployment compensation appeals hearings at the Maine Department of Labor, a state official has reported to the Legislature. In her report to the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee on Thursday, Maine Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette highlighted […]
unemployment hearings
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Feds warn Maine DOL that LePage administration interfered in hearing process
Read the U.S. Department of Labor investigation report An April 11, 2013, Sun Journal investigative report cited sources who said Gov. Paul LePage had summoned Labor Department employees to a mandatory luncheon at the Blaine House on March 21 and scolded them for finding too many unemployment-benefit appeals cases in favor of workers. They were […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Fed’s investigation into claims of LePage’s labor interference due in January
AUGUSTA — Members of a state commission that studied problems with the Maine unemployment claims and appeals process said Thursday that a federal investigation into claims that Gov. Paul LePage pressured unemployment appeals hearing officers to be more “pro-business” is expected to wrap up next month. Former Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Daniel Wathen […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Sweeping changes to Maine’s unemployment benefits appeals system urged
AUGUSTA — Employers and a lawyer representing state employees told an ad-hoc committee assembled by Gov. Paul LePage to study Maine’s unemployment system that the program’s appeals system must be made more fair and efficient. The study committee, composed of representatives for workers and businesses, heard testimony from unemployment appeals officers, business owners and union […]
Posted inMaine
State employees say LePage pressured them to deny jobless benefits
At a meeting last month, Gov. Paul LePage pressured hearing officers at the Department of Labor to decide unemployment-benefit cases in favor of business owners over workers, sources to the Sun Journal have said. LePage summoned more than a dozen employees at the state agency to a luncheon on March 21 that lasted more than […]