The Right to Work legislation, LD 788 “An Act To Prohibit Forced Payment of Labor Union Dues or Fees by Workers,” is sponsored by Representative Tom Winsor,  (R-Norway). The summary of the bill reads as follows:  “This bill guarantees workers free choice in deciding whether to join or refrain from joining labor unions. It prohibits employers from deducting fees from nonunion employees.”

You see, if you accept a position with the state of Maine, you don’t have a choice as to whether or not you pay a ”fair share” (the nice definition is the “agency fee”) to the Service Employees International Union-Maine State Employees Association. That’s right. They say that you, as an employee, whether you join the union or not, benefit from the collective bargaining agreement —  so shut up and pay! You don’t even have a choice of how to pay the “fair share,” as it is an automatic withdrawal from your pay; they just take it, no choice at all. The state of Maine is the “collection agent” for the unions. Gee, I wonder how much that costs the state? What if we change the law to require the unions to collect their own dues, which is what LD 788 does? That is what scares the heck out of the union bosses. In short, the SEIU-MSEA has taken away your right to choose!

A Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. However, employees who work in the railway or airline industries are not protected by a Right to Work law, and employees who work on a federal enclave may not be.

The unions have begun to ratchet up the noise here in Maine and it will only increase the closer we get to the legislation’s introduction. So the Political Animals tackle the question: pay to work or right to work?

Watching the events unfold in Wisconsin and in other states across this great country and I realize that Maine is only at the beginning of the uprising stage.

As I have been watching the rhetoric ratcheting up by the union thugs, I mean members, I was trying to recall where I had read something like this happening in a book I recently read. That’s when it hit me…I was explaining the book “Animal Farm,” by George Orwell, to my son for one of his classes in school. I had read the book when I was in school back in the dark ages, but read it through again just a couple of months ago to refresh my memory. In the book, Old Major (the middle white boar) had a dream and gathered all the animals in the barn after Farmer Jones had gotten drunk and went to bed. Old Major began his presentation; “Now comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it; our lives are miserable; laborious and short. We are born, barely given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies…”

Sound eerily familiar? The way these poor union folks are talking, you would think we are asking them to give up a year’s pay and work till they’re 90 or something! In case you didn’t read the book or forgot the moral of the story of “Animal Farm,” the animals killed the all humans because they felt the humans were screwing them. I am not saying the union thugs want to kill you or anything, but the thugs are inferring that you, the taxpayer, just aren’t ponying up enough for them. But, I digress.

I am not an anti-union person, but I am against any organization that claims to have the best interest of the people at heart. “Fair share” is simply about money and power for the union bosses. Maine is $12 billion in debt, with $4.5 billion of that in underfunded union pensions. This is not the fault of the rank and file, but I do blame the politicians who chose to underfund the retirement system in order to fund their social experiments. As for the union bosses, they should be taken to the woodshed for allowing this to happen. The union bosses have chosen to use the dues to fund political activity against you, the taxpayer, and allow the politicians to continue the practice of underfunding the pension system. Yes, it is that simple. This is about saving the state and the taxpayer, not destroying or breaking the union. Do you think the quasi-solution of the last administration — forced shutdown days — was the answer? Once again, their solution was to inflict pain on the employees rather than cutting spending on their pet social programs.

I know you’re saying “what the heck is this right wing wacko talking about? That Lansley character is just bloviating and spewing rhetoric about the unions again.” Really? I am certain just about everybody knows somebody who works for the state,  just ask him or her. Lord knows they are the largest employer in Maine. So as they (union thugs) take to the streets and fill the dome in Augusta, this budget season keep this in mind: They are protesting the person who pays their salary, contributes to their pensions and keeps them gainfully employed — you the taxpayer! A sad state of affairs that the union bosses and the thugs would pit neighbor against neighbor to line their own pockets. I would prefer a thank you.

Just a quick suggestion for those who wish to stay educated, read “Animal Farm” by George Orwell.

That’s my opinion let me hear yours! My email is [email protected] .

Scott Lansley is a former Legislator, current s879electman in Sabattus. He resides in Sabattus with his wife and children. He also is the Political Director for Maine Taxpayer’s United.