Buried in the state’s $5.7 billion budget that passed at the end of March was a wage contract approved by Gov. John Baldacci requiring non-union state employees to pay union dues.

The contract itself came as a surprise to many legislators, who were caught unaware that a 3 percent salary increase for this coming year and next had been negotiated for the state’s 11,000 workers. That contract also continues the state’s practice of paying 100 percent of an employee’s health insurance costs.

Late last week, all of the state’s 3,000 non-union employees got letters telling them that paying some union dues “will be a condition of your employment.”

Under the contract negotiated with the governor’s office, non-union workers will be required to pay what’s known as “Fair Share” dues to the Maine State Employees Association – covering the cost of representation in negotiations. That’s $6.71 per week for full-time employees, versus $9.10 for full union dues, and only 50 percent of that will be required in the first year.

The Fair Share dues do not include funds used for political purposes, either inside the organization or on state campaigns.

The MSEA is one of the state’s larger political action committees contributing almost exclusively to Democratic candidates in state elections. Last year it spent $149,724, mostly on behalf of candidates, rather than direct contributions to specific campaigns, in order to comply with the state’s Clean Election law.

While the union has tried to get previous administrations to sign onto the Fair Share provision, Gov. Baldacci was the first to agree.

“We tried to, both under Gov. McKernon and Angus King, but they were not interested,” said John Graham, acting director for the MSEA. A similar request made on behalf of the state’s judicial employees was rejected by negotiators for the chief justice, Graham said.

While some have accused Baldacci of politicking for union support in his bid for re-election in 2006, his spokesman said the governor believed requiring the dues from non-union members was the right thing to do.

“The governor feels a certain sense of fair play here,” said Lynn Kippax, the governor’s spokesperson. “If workers regardless of their union affiliation benefit….then it makes sense for everyone to compensate the union for that bargaining.”

As for buying union support, Graham said, “Anybody who thinks that doesn’t understand how these things work.” And, the union already supported the governor the last time he ran.

“The governor is very supportive of organized labor. He’s always been a friend of organized labor,” Graham said, and has “an open ear” to workers’ issues.

Graham said the issue is really with workers who have been with the state for more than two years, since the union already won Fair Share payments for all new workers – both state and judicial – in negotiations two years ago.

Some Republicans are crying foul, and legislators from both parties, who represent communities where a lot of state employees live, say they’ve had a few e-mails and calls.

Sen. Arthur Mayo, D-Sagadahoc, said he had heard from some workers.

“I can understand their not wanting to pay, but they get all the benefits of the people that pay,” he said, and “it’s a good contract.”

Rep. Elizabeth Miller, D-Somerville, whose Chelsea end of her district is home to state employees, said she received an e-mail from a non-union worker who was “opposed and pretty indignant.”

“Generally, I don’t want to mess with union contracts,” Miller said, adding, “I understand the frustrations.”

Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Penobscot and Hancock, said he’s gotten several e-mails from people angry about the dues and the letter saying that paying them was a condition of employment.

“The union didn’t hire me. Are they going to fire me?” asked a worker, Rosen said.

Another asked if the amount of money collected by the union was going up as a result of the Fair Share clause – by an estimated $700,000 annually based on a mix of full and part-time workers – “why aren’t the dues going down?”

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