Press Release: Maine Policy launches MyPayMySayMaine.org
Maine Policy launches MyPayMySayMaine.org to
educate public workers of their rights under Janus decision
PORTLAND, Maine – The Maine Heritage Policy Center today launched My Pay My Say Maine, a state-level awareness and education campaign intended to inform public-sector union employees in Maine about their rights under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME.
Maine Policy’s launching of My Pay My Say Maine comes on the one-year anniversary of the high court’s ruling in Janus where it found public employees cannot be compelled to financially support a union. The campaign is being launched in partnership with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Mich., which originally launched the My Pay My Say campaign nationwide.
Since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in June 2018, labor organizations and their allies in Maine and throughout the country have been less than forthcoming about the impact of Janus. For example, while conceding that “fair share” or agency fees could no longer be collected from employees without affirmative consent, many groups have advised public employers not to engage in discussions with employees about the impact of the decision.
This leaves public-sector employees with limited resources and opportunity to fully understand the scope of Janus and how it impacts their employment and unionized workplace.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME is one of the most important decisions of our lifetime, and our organization is dedicated to educating public-sector union employees in Maine about their rights under the ruling,” Maine Policy CEO Matthew Gagnon said. “No longer can public employees be forced to pay agency fees, nor can unions retaliate against employees who exercise their rights under Janus.”
Given recent legislative action in Maine, it is clear that public-sector unions have little interest in educating members of their rights under Janus. On June 20, Governor Janet Mills signed into law LD 1451, a law giving government unions exclusive access to the personal information of public employees, regardless of whether the employee is a dues-paying member of the union.
This information includes the employee’s name, job title, workplace location, home address, work telephone numbers, home and personal cell phone numbers, work email address, personal email address and date of hire. Public employees cannot opt out of a union having access to this private information until after the initial disclosure is made.
“Public-sector workers in Maine deserve a resource that informs them of their First Amendment rights under Janus,” Gagnon said. “Workers need clarity and guidance on this important issue that they are not receiving from those who are supposed to have their best interests in mind.”
My Pay My Say Maine will educate the public and raise awareness about the Janus decision by serving as a resource for union members seeking deeper understanding of the decision and by sharing stories of public-sector employees who have been misrepresented by their union.
More information about the campaign can be found at MyPayMySayMaine.org
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The Maine Heritage Policy Center (Maine Policy) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization dedicated to freeing people from dependency, creating prosperity, and redefining the role of government. Maine Policy formulates and promotes free-market public policies in the areas of health care, education, regulations, government transparency and tax and fiscal policy. To learn more about Maine Policy or review our policy work, visit: www.mainepolicy.org