AUGUSTA ( AP) — The chief of the Maine Labor Relations Board has dismissed a complaint by the state’s largest public employees union, which claimed the state is hiring private contractors before negotiating with the union for the work.
The decision issued by board Executive Director Marc Ayotte on Wednesday said the Maine State Employees Association complaint fails to state a claim under state labor law.
The union in its complaint, originally filed in February and amended this week, alleged the state is contractually obligated to negotiate with the union before it hires non-members.
The ruling was praised by the administration of Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
LePage’s chief of staff said the union is “desperate” and the administration is trying to make government more efficient and effective.
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