AUGUSTA – U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao praised the Bush administration’s record creating jobs as she visited a women’s construction event Thursday, but also sharply criticized legislation co-sponsored by a Maine congressman that makes it easier for unions to organize.

“Our country is experiencing steady, sustainable job growth,” Chao told an audience of mostly women at a National Association of Women in Construction gathering at the Augusta Civic Center.

Chao said the nation has seen 43 consecutive months of job growth for a total of 7.8 million new jobs since August 2003, more than the number created in the European Union and Japan combined.

While touting administration programs to promote training of women for trades and construction, Chao took aim at Democratic-backed legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen that would take away the right of employers to demand secret-ballot elections by workers before unions can be recognized. U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, also a Maine Democrat, voted for the bill as well.

The Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the card check bill, would certify a union when a majority of workers at a work site sign cards authorizing it. Under present law, employers can require elections, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, on whether a union should be recognized.

President Bush has promised to veto the bill. Chao said that although the title sounds empowering, “the bill does just the opposite. It effectively takes away a worker’s right to vote in a private ballot election.”

Under the current process, the NLRB supervises an election if 30 percent of a workplace expresses interest in union representation, said Chao. That process has served workers well for 60 years and “its formality ensures election integrity _ so each person’s vote counts,” she said.

A union leader in Maine defended the bill changing that process, saying it seeks to bolster workers’ rights that have been “systematically rolled back” by the Bush administration.

“Suddenly, now he’s the friend of American workers,” said Jack McKay, president of the Eastern Maine Labor Council, a regional branch of the AFL-CIO.

In her address, Chao said that increasing access to education and job training is especially important as the nation faces what she called a “skills gap.”

The Maine chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction sponsors the Construction Expo of Maine.

Signs, signatures and a personal meeting with John Reny himself add Moxie to Lisbon’s pitch for the retailer.

that works for them.”

They pulled out all the stops. Besides showing Reny plans for new retail development in the center of town, town officials presented him with the petition and a Moxie T-shirt.

“We’re very honored to think the people think so much of us,” said Reny, vice president of the Maine-based chain, who was obviously flattered and a little overwhelmed by the display. “I think we would take a look at it and make a decision.”

But not soon. The company is already committed to expansions of its Bridgton and Belfast stores and Reny said the company tends to act conservatively. It already operates 14 stores throughout the state.

“We like to do things at our own pace,” he said. “There are dangers in trying to be too big, too fast.”

He did acknowledge, though, that Lisbon’s effort was impressive.

“We’ve never had that kind of full-court press,” he said with a chuckle. “We get different inquiries from around the state all the time. But not like this.”