Title

"Ballot 2003" piece on the casino referendum, stating that the true reason many

Source

Portland Phoenix

Date

5-23-2003

Pages

1, 14

Abstract

"Ballot 2003" piece on the casino referendum, stating that the true reason many Maine employers are opposing a casino is to avoid wage increases and unionization. The Maine business community remains split on the casino issue. Christopher Hall, legal counsel for the Maine Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber's governing board has yet to come out in support or opposition to the referendum. Tim Walton, executive director of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Maine, said his organization won't take a position on gambling, but that they will strongly oppose a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). A PLA states the terms under which work on a project will be completed, including wages and benefits, and is generally signed with a union. A unionized casino would create upward pressure on wages throughout the state, and also provide encouragement to workers who have lost previous union organizing drives. With comments by John Hanson, director of the University of Maine's Bureau of Labor Education, Dennis Bailey, head of Casinos No!, and Christopher St. John of the Maine Center for Economic Policy.

Subjects

Gambling, Labor unions, Referendums (State), Wages and salaries

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