Groups representing Maine health care workers, firefighters and others called on the federal government and employers to make sure they are protected from coronavirus.
unions
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Major labor law overhaul sought by Maine lawmakers
Democratic U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden back a measure that would block right-to-work laws and bolster America’s struggling unions.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
BIW union hopes to sink subcontracting plan that company says it needs
The shipyard says it needs temporary workers to complete a backlog of military orders, but the machinists’ union says that would violate its contract.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
UMaine professor loses appeal in lawsuit contesting union representation
The economics professor at Machias wants to block a union from representing him in contract negotiations and plans to file to have the case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted inMaine, sj-web
New England workers authorized to strike against Consolidated Communications
PORTLAND (AP) — Unions representing Consolidated Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont authorized a strike if negotiators fail to reach an agreement before their contract expires in less than two weeks, officials announced Wednesday. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America are engaged in their first contact negotiations since […]
Posted inNation / World
Supreme Court rules against public unions collecting fees from nonmembers
WASHINGTON — Conservatives on the Supreme Court said Wednesday it was unconstitutional to allow public employee unions to require collective bargaining fees from workers who choose not to join the union, a major blow for the U.S. labor movement. The court in a 5-to-4 decision overturned a 40-year-old precedent and said compelling such fees was […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Shouldn't be allowed to unionize
There is a big difference between private-sector employees and public-sector (government) employees (school teachers, firefighters, police, etc.). That difference means that public-sector employees should not be allowed to unionize. With respect to private-sector employees, there is a balance of interests when business owners negotiate employment contracts with their employees. Employers have to decide whether or […]
Posted inMaine
Fact check: Gov. LePage statements on right-to-work and income incorrect
LEWISTON — Republican Gov. Paul LePage boldly invited the audience Wednesday at his town hall meeting to check his facts if they wanted to when he made the claim that workers in so-called “right-to-work” states make more money than those where labor unions hold more sway. “I will just tell you the honest truth and […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
U.S. Supreme Court deadlocks on union fees dispute
WASHINGTON — A tie vote from the Supreme Court on Tuesday handed a win to labor unions in a high-profile dispute over their ability to collect fees. The justices divided 4-4 in a case that considered whether public employees represented by a union can be required to pay “fair share” fees covering collective bargaining costs […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Fairpoint unions go on strike
PORTLAND — More than 1,700 FairPoint Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont went on strike early Friday after a failed attempt hours earlier by two unions to re-engage the company in negotiations. The unions have offered “significant concessions” but the company wasn’t interested, said Peter McLaughlin, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical […]