AUGUSTA — A bill many thought was dead will come up for a vote by a legislative committee Wednesday as lawmakers weigh in on a measure that would end a requirement for all public sector workers to pay a portion of union dues.
The so-called right to work bill, LD 309, was supposed to come up for a vote last year, but was tabled when the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee said it needed more time for consideration. This year, it was not scheduled for a work session until the committee received special permission from legislative leaders to meet past deadline.
The work session, set for 1 p.m., has prompted the AFL-CIO and others to organize a noon State House press conference to show opposition to the bill.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tom Winsor, R-Norway, who has said he was troubled by a requirement that all state workers, even if they are not members of a union, must pay a portion of union dues. The Maine State Employees Association and others argue that all state workers benefit from the contracts they negotiate, so all should pay their fair share.
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