DOZENS OF NORTHERN MAINE LOGGERS CALL FOR END TO ASSAULT ON MAINE WORKERS

Sen. Jackson w/other Maine lawmakers and loggers supporting Maine workers

AUGUSTA—Dozens of northern Maine loggers and small business owners showed up at the State House to ask lawmakers to protect Maine jobs that are currently going to Canadian labor. The Labor Commerce, Research, and Economic Development Committee (LCRED) held a public hearing on Senator Thomas Saviello’s bill, “An Act to Improve the Process by Which Logging Contractors Hire Legal Foreign Workers” (LD 1383).

Prior to the public hearing, Senator Troy Jackson of Allagash held a press conference to provide an opportunity for the media and lawmakers to hear directly from loggers and small business owners in northern Maine about the ramification of LD 1383.

At the press conference, Senator Jackson said, “The question is, ‘whose side are we on? We cannot abandon Maine workers for fire-sale Canadian wages. This is poor policy and frankly immoral.”

LD 1383 makes it easier for Maine companies to hire H2A bonded foreign labor by the loosening of several standards, including eliminating the proof of ownership for the equipment used in logging operations. LD 1383 also permits Maine taxpayer dollars to be spent on giving Maine unemployment to foreign workers.

“Plain and simple, Maine jobs are going to Canadian workers,” said Sen. Jackson who is also a logger. “The practical effect of this legislation is even fewer opportunities for Maine workers. I cannot continue to sit back and watch Canadian trucks drive right by my house hauling Maine lumber while my neighbors are out of work.”

Logging-related discussions have heated up since a recent House floor debate when Rep. Peter Rioux (R-Winterport) called Maine loggers lazy and whiney and the endorsement of hiring Canadian labor because it’s cheaper by Rep. Jarrod Crockett.

Also speaking against LD 1383 was Shelly Mountain, a logger and small business owner, “There are many Maine loggers whose equipment sits idle while foreign labor is doing the job. Consequently, Maine loggers are defaulting on loans for that equipment. No matter how some try to construe it, Maine’s economy and certainly Maine’s workers do not benefit from the hiring of Canadian labor.”

Shelly Mountain, a northern Maine logger and small business owner

Rep. John Martin (D-Eagle Lake) was unable to be in Augusta due to constituent related commitments but Senator John Patrick (D-Oxford read a statement: “This bill will result in increased costs for Maine employers. Maine employers will see increases in unemployment insurance since Maine employers who do not have these foreign workers will pay the cost as these contractors do not pay enough to cover the unemployment payments for the bonded laborers.”

Speaking for himself, Senator Patrick, a Rumford paper mill worker, said, “There’s a lot of talk these days about minimum wage. Well, I will tell you that there’s also a minimum wage for Maine loggers and that is the price of Canadian loggers.”

The public hearing lasted more than three hours. The work session for LD 1383 will likely be scheduled for next week

For more information on LD 1383, click here.