Legislation
Currently, forced union dues is legal in Maine. Hard to believe, but it's true.LD 1604
LD
1604 was a bill, sponsored by Rep. Scott Lansley on our behalf, to
make it illegal to fire public employees for not paying union fees, and
to prohibit the requirement of paying union fees. Despite the
huge turnout in our favor at the public hearing, the committee, many of
whom receive special-interest political funding from MSEA, voted to
defeat the bill. It was not passed.LD 1915
Under the guise of a "compromise", LD 1915 was introduced. However, this bill explicitly allows public employers to directly deduct union fees from employees' paychecks without their permission. It is hardly a compromise of any sort, and actually strengthens the union's ability to extort workers for their own political gain. This bill was the idea of Senator Ethan Strimling, who is sizing up his possibilities of a run for Congress, no doubt heavily sponsored by unions such as MSEA.LD 1915 was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor on June 25 2007.
For now the Legislature has adjourned.