MSEA-SEIU is forcing all state employees to pay 73 percent of total dues, called the “fair share,” for the service of having the union negotiate for them. However, the employee will not be allowed to vote for the work the union has done for them unless they agree to pay another 27 percent more to be a full union member. If any of the current 2,400 nonunion employees that will be affected by the change chose not to join the union, they could be terminated from employment.

The 27 percent funds part of the union’s political agenda. I am neither a Republican nor Democrat. I vote my conscience, not party line. I do not feel that in order to get a vote I need to pay into a particular political agenda. I know that the union is very Democratic in its leanings. I do not agree with the fact that they are so biased toward one group and would use my money to support people with fliers and phone calls. Why is it that if forced to pay 73 percent of the union dues, I will not be given a vote?

If the union wants to be fair, then it needs to do so all around. I would like to see every state of Maine employee gain a vote if we are forced to pay the fair share at the 73 percent rate. It would then be left to the employee to choose whether they want to pay more.

Jeff Furlong, South China