Labor groups fear offshore wind could go the same way as solar: low wages and temp workers.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills speaks at a news conference, Jan. 17, 2023, in Augusta, Maine.AP PHOTO/ROBERT F. BUKATY
BY LEE HARRIS, The American Prosect
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is threatening to veto legislation governing how the state builds and operates offshore wind projects, citing concerns over pro-union labor provisions.
The Democratic governor championed an earlier version of the bill, but said this past week that she opposes a commitment to use project labor agreements (PLAs), pre-hire deals that set a floor for wages and can help build union power.
Mills argued that mandating a PLA would create a “chilling effect” for non-union companies, discouraging them from bidding on construction.
Supporters of the PLA provision say that is a far-fetched objection, since the agreements do not ban non-union contractors from vying for jobs. (In fact, that’s one reason some more radical unionists say PLAs do too little to advance labor’s cause.)
On Friday, state lawmakers wrote to Mills with a proposed compromise, suggesting new bill text to meet her concerns about potential workforce shortages.
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