Skip to main content

Maine Senate Fails to Pass Union Busting Bill


Earlier this week, the Republican controlled Maine Senate failed to pass a bill that would have significantly diminished the power of unions in the state.  The bill, LD 1553, would have required union members in the state to vote every two years on whether or not to decertify their union.  If any labor union failed to receive a majority of votes in its favor, that union would subsequently be decertified and no longer would serve as the representative of the bargaining unit.  LD 1553 also went one step further and would have allowed employees of a decertified union to choose a new union at any particular time of their choosing.

This bill, which would have given employees far reaching control over their unions, failed to pass the state Senate by a 20 - 13 vote.  It is not surprising to see that all Democrats opposed this bill...although it is somewhat eye brow raising to see that five Republicans opposed the bill.  Although turning Maine into a right to work state (which this bill would have helped accomplish) has been a priority for Republican Governor Paul LePage, things will likely have to wait for the time being.  In the interim, this bill is headed to the Democratic controlled House.  If LD 1553 failed to pass in the Republican controlled Senate, I would not hold out much hope for its success in the House.


For additional information:  https://bangordailynews.com/2017/06/12/politics/maine-senate-dumps-proposal-to-hold-union-busting-votes-every-two-years/

For a copy of LD 1553:  http://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280065099

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more