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Fair Share Act Issue Brought To The Attention Of Local Lawmakers Again This Year

December 12th, 2012 by WCBC Radio

As a result of the Fair Share Act in Maryland- since July of 2011- thousands of non-union state workers have seen their paychecks reduced by $10.80 to $14.96.  Passed in 2009 by the General Assembly, the Governor Martin O'Malley-backed bill kicked into gear after state workers last year approved broad contracts containing the nonmember union fee provision. The act was lobbied for strongly by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the largest union of state workers. Unions like AFSCME say charging nonmembers is a matter of fairness because the contracts they negotiate with the state apply to dues-paying members and nonmembers alike. But some of the state workers who don't want to be part of a union but must now pay anyway say the fees are tantamount to stealing. State employee John Roby has brought the issue to the attention of Allegany County lawmakers each of the last two years and did so again Monday night. Roby says while AFSCME claims the fees are to offset the cost of the collective bargaining process, they actually are generating profit for the union- at non union members expense…





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