Return of Zombie Right to Work for Less Bills

Like a couple of zombies that just won’t die, two right to work for less bills returned to the Labor and Housing Committee on Tuesday. LD 1636, sponsored by Sen. Eric Brakey (R-Androscoggin) would make it illegal for workers to negotiate union security agreements with their employer that require all workers in a bargaining unit to pay for the cost of union representation. The measure would require the state Attorney General to prosecute workers for enforcing these contract clauses, with penalties of up to a year in jail with a maximum $2000 fine, plus “damages.”

In his testimony, Senator Brakey accused union workers of being corrupt and spread a lot of other anti-union talking points.

The Mills administration's Department of Labor, the Maine AFL-CIO, the Maine Service Employees Association,  Machinists Local S6, IBEW 567, Machinists S-89, Western Mane Labor Council, USW Women of Steel, Maine State Nurses Association, Maine Education Association, Maine Association of Police and others testified in opposition to both bills.

"These so-called 'right to work' bills are thinly veiled attempts to weaken labor organizations under the guise of offering more freedom to workers," said IAM Local S6 member and steward Devin Ragnar, a shipbuilder at Bath Iron Works.

Justin Walsh, training director for IBEW 567's apprenticeship program, testified that union dues are what allows the union to provide free training for its apprenticeship program where first year electrical apprentices earn a total compensation package of $32.80 with no experience.

"With the shortage of electricians in Maine, why are you trying to make it harder and more expensive to become an electrician?" asked Walsh. "Who on this committee would like to speak with all 140 of my apprentices and explain to them why they should pay more? Why do you want to get involved in a private business with our electrical contractors. They've chose to use union labor."

Walsh told a story about how one of his apprentices lost his teenage son. One of the apprentices' biggest heartbreaks was that his son had been so proud that his dad was going to become an electrician and would not be alive to see him complete the program. He vowed to finish his apprenticeship for his son and was able to continue thanks to grief counseling that is covered by his union-negotiated health insurance.

"Does the sponsor of this bill want to talk to my apprentice about that and tell him he preferred that he pay for that out of pocket?" Walsh asked. "Or do they not care that if I have to increase the cost of our apprenticeship he may not be able to afford to fulfill that dream?"

The only two groups to testify in support of the bills were lobbyists from the corporate funded National Right to Work Committee and Maine Policy Institute