§961. Purpose It is declared to be the public policy of this State and it is the purpose of this chapter to promote the improvement of the relationship between public employers and their employees by providing a uniform basis for recognizing the right of public employees to join labor organizations of their own choosing and […]
§962. Definitions As used in this chapter the following terms shall, unless the context requires a different interpretation, have the following meanings. [PL 1969, c. 424, §1 (NEW).] 1. Board. “Board” means the Maine Labor Relations Board referred to in section 968. [PL 1975, c. 564, §9 (AMD).] 2. Bargaining agent. “Bargaining agent” […]
§963. Right of public employees to join or refrain from joining labor organizations A person may not directly or indirectly interfere with, intimidate, restrain, coerce or discriminate against a public employee or a group of public employees in the free exercise of their rights, given by this section, to voluntarily: [PL 2007, c. 415, […]
§964-A. Continuation of grievance arbitration provisions 1. Contract signed before October 1, 2005. If a contract between a public employer and a bargaining agent signed prior to October 1, 2005 expires prior to the parties’ agreement on a new contract, the grievance arbitration provisions of the expired contract pertaining to disciplinary action remain in effect […]
§964. Prohibited acts of public employers, public employees and public employee organizations 1. Public employer prohibitions. Public employers, their representatives and their agents are prohibited from: A. Interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 963; [PL 1969, c. 424, §1 (NEW).] B. Encouraging or discouraging […]
§965. Obligation to bargain 1. Negotiations. It is the obligation of the public employer and the bargaining agent to bargain collectively. “Collective bargaining” means, for the purposes of this chapter, their mutual obligation: A. To meet at reasonable times; [PL 1969, c. 424, §1 (NEW).] B. Except as provided in paragraph B‑1, to […]
§966. Bargaining unit; how determined 1. Bargaining unit standards. In the event of a dispute between the public employer and an employee or employees as to the appropriateness of a unit for purposes of collective bargaining or between the public employer and an employee or employees as to whether a supervisory or other position is […]
§967. Determination of bargaining agent 1. Voluntary recognition. Any public employee organization may file a request with a public employer alleging that a majority of the public employees in an appropriate bargaining unit wish to be represented for the purpose of collective bargaining between the public employer and the employees’ organization. Such request must describe […]
§968. Maine Labor Relations Board; powers and duties 1. Maine Labor Relations Board. The Maine Labor Relations Board, established by Title 5, section 12004‑B, subsection 2, consists of 3 members and 6 alternates appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters and to […]
§969. Municipal personnel board or civil service authority Nothing in this chapter shall diminish the authority and power of any municipal civil service commission or personnel board or its agents established by statute, charter or special act to conduct and grade merit examinations and to rate candidates in the order of their relative excellence from […]
§970. Scope of binding contract arbitration A collective bargaining agreement between a public employer and a bargaining agent may provide for binding arbitration as the final step of a grievance procedure but the only grievances which may be taken to such binding arbitration shall be disputes between the parties as to the meaning or application […]
§971. Suits by and against unincorporated employee organizations In any judicial proceeding brought under this chapter or to enforce any of the rights guaranteed by this chapter, any unincorporated employee organization may sue or be sued in the name by which it is known. [PL 1971, c. 609, §10 (RPR).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1969, […]
§972. Review Either party may seek a review by the Superior Court of a binding determination by an arbitration panel. For interest arbitrations, the review must be sought in accordance with the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 80B. [PL 1993, c. 90, §3 (AMD).] The binding determination of an arbitration panel or arbitrator, […]
§973. Separability If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this chapter for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this chapter. [PL 1975, c. 564, §29 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1975, c. 564, §29 (NEW).
§974. Publication of initial proposals Either party to negotiations may publicize the parties’ written initial collective bargaining proposals. No proposal may be publicized until 10 days after both parties have made their initial proposal. [PL 1979, c. 125, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1979, c. 125, §1 (NEW).
§975. Bargaining agent access 1. Bargaining agent access to employees. Public employers shall provide to a bargaining agent access to members of the bargaining unit that the bargaining agent exclusively represents. Access must include, but is not limited to, the following: A. The right to meet with individual employees on the premises of the […]
§976. Obligations during interim between contracts During the interim after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement and before the effective date of any subsequent collective bargaining agreement, public employees covered by the expired collective bargaining agreement remain eligible for and must receive step increases in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in […]
