Several Labor Bills in Advancing in Maine Legislature

With less than a week left in the Maine Legislature's second regular session, a number of labor bills are moving through the House and Senate that will create good union jobs in renewable energy, establish a board to settle labor complaints in the logging industry, strengthen labor education, bolster state retirement security for state employees and more.

• LD 1969, sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy, would create good quality clean energy jobs and advance equity in the renewable energy industry. It will require contractors on large renewable energy projects (solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, hydro, etc) to pay prevailing wages, which ensure that workers are paid decent wages and benefits that are customary for each occupation in an industry. It would also incentivize project labor agreements on renewable energy projects and build out an infrastructure to increase utilization of pre-apprenticeship programs in Maine.  LD 1969 passed the Maine House on Wednesday 81 - 59 on a party line vote (see how your legislator voted). It is awaiting votes in the Senate. Click here to tell your legislators to support LD 1969!

• LD 1816, sponsored by House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, would strengthen labor education in Maine by establishing the Charles A. Scontras Labor Education Center at the University of Southern Maine and strengthening the University of Maine's Bureau of Labor Education. LD 1816 passed the Maine House and Senate and is currently on the Appropriations table awaiting lawmakers to fund it.  Funding decisions on the bill will be made in the coming days. Please click here to tell the Appropriations Committee to fund LD 1816.

• The Maine AFL-CIO and the Maine Service Employees Association (SEIU-1989) continue to  urge the Appropriations Committee to fund a higher cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retired teachers, state workers and other public employees. Last year, these retirees received a maximum COLA of 3 percent, but in the past year inflation has increased by 5.4 percent. As a result, retirees are struggling to make ends meet.

• LD 1724, sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson, would establish a Logging Dispute Resolution Board to hear disputes related to the logging industry, including pay violations, payout amounts, contract violations and hiring disputes. LD 1724 passed the House and Senate and is now heading to the Governor's desk.