Labor Pro-Bills Bills Passed by the Legislature & Awaiting Action by the Governor

Below are some other pro-labor bills that have passed the Maine Legislature but are awaiting action by Governor Mills. We are urging Governor Mills to either sign these bill or let them go into law without her signature, so please ask her to support these critical measures.

Protecting Fisheries and Supporting Union Jobs in Offshore Wind

LD 1847  would require that any port facilities in Maine that are built to support offshore wind energy include strong labor, community benefit and environmental standards. It would ensure that wind developers create high quality jobs by adopting strong labor standards; prioritize the hiring of Maine workers, especially those from rural communities; and prioritize worker safety and the environment by requiring port facilities to seek maximum federal funding.

LD 1895 establishes strong labor standards for the construction of offshore including Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) so that these projects support good jobs with living wages, great benefits and workers' rights. It also would protect the generational fishing grounds that support thousands of livelihoods in our coastal communities by keeping offshore wind out of Lobster Management Area One (LMA 1). Finally it would create standards for wildlife, and environmental monitoring and mitigation.

Bill to Crack Down on Employer Intimidation During Union Drives

LD 1756, sponsored by Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), would strengthen our Constitutional right to Freedom of Association and the freedom to organize by prohibiting employers from forcing employees to attend so-called “captive audience” meetings where they are forced during work hours to listen to anti-union talking points, religion or politics unrelated to their jobs. During the public hearing on the bill, workers described how they felt isolated, pressured and manipulated by their employers to vote against forming unions.

Legislation to Strengthen the Prevailing Wages Law

LD 1419, Rep. Rebecca Mellett (D-Cape Elizabeth), would strengthen the state’s prevailing law, which sets the minimum wage rates contractors must pay workers on state-funded public works projects of $50,000 or more. This would help ensure that Maine's prevailing wage rates accurately reflect the wages in an increasingly competitive labor market for construction.