AUGUSTA — The fate of a controversial measure that would impact public sector unions is still up in the air, after the Maine House failed to kill it in a tied vote this morning.
The body voted 74 to 74 against indefinitely postponing LD 309, which would eliminate the ‘fair share’ provision in Maine law for public sector union employees.
Current Maine law requires non-union public sector employees to pay unions a fee, which is separate than union dues, to pay for the collective bargaining and contract negotiations they benefit from. Union contracts cover all state workers, regardless of whether or not they are members of the union. The fee is known as ‘fair share.’
The bill is expected to be referred back to a committee this afternoon and get scheduled for a public hearing next week.
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