Maine House considers right-to-work, dues bills

The Maine House is due to take up a pair of anti-union bills, one to make Maine a right-to-work state and the other to bar public employees from deducting union dues from non-members.

Both of the bills faced significant opposition in the Democratic-controlled House, and both were opposed by the Labor Committee's majority as they came up for votes Wednesday.

The right-to-work bill would make it illegal for a private employer from requiring employees to join a labor organization or pay any union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

The second bill seeks to repeal the law that allows public employers to deduct service fees from employees' pay in lieu of union dues. It would require signed authorization from the employee in order to deduct union dues.