Bill seeks to repeal law that caused Irving halt
6/11/09 | 30 comments
update

Bill seeks to repeal law that caused Irving halt


By Kevin Miller
BDN Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci filed emergency legislation on Wednesday to repeal the state law that prompted Irving Woodlands LLC to halt operations on more than 1 million acres in northern Maine.

For the past week, Maine lawmakers and officials from the New Brunswick-based company have squared off over a 2004 law that allows logging contractors working for Irving to enter into collective bargaining.

Claiming the law unfairly singles out Irving, the company shut down operations just as the logging season was beginning. Lawmakers responded angrily at first and accused the company of using the job cuts as a way to browbeat the state into caving.

Although several dozen Irving employees were kept on the job, the halt had the potential to affect more than 300 jobs in areas of Maine where alternative employment opportunities are limited.

The emergency bill submitted Wednesday would repeal the collective bargaining provision while committing the Maine Department of Labor to enforce laws already on the books regarding companies’ use of foreign workers in the Maine woods. The bill would also triple the fine for violations of the laws regarding foreign work-ers and equipment.

“Getting people back to work has to be our top priority,” Baldacci said in a statement. “While concerns about the wages and the concentration of land ownership in northern Maine remain, the current law is actually preventing people from working. That’s not acceptable.”

An Irving spokeswoman said the company appreciates the efforts to address the situation.

Rep. John Martin, the Eagle Lake Democrat who was co-sponsor of the 2004 law, replied “not good” when asked how he felt about the repeal. But Martin said he and the other co-sponsor, Democratic Sen. Troy Jackson, a logger from Allagash, agreed to go along with the wishes of the group of northern Maine contractors who were polled about their preferences on the issue last weekend in Fort Kent.

“Roughly 84 percent of the contractors asked us to repeal the law so they can go back to work,” Martin said Wednesday afternoon. “I understand where they are coming from. They need to eat. They need to support their families.”

Deemed a measure to prevent large landowners from developing monopolies in Maine, the original version of the 2004 bill allowing collective bargaining would have encompassed several other major timberland owners, including Plum Creek Timber Co. The measure stemmed from past conflicts between Irving and contractors upset with the company’s business practices.

The bill was eventually written in a way that applied to only Irving, however, because the company owns, possesses or acquires economic control over more than 400,000 acres in a labor market area. But the law was suspended year after year at the strong urging of Irving representatives. When it finally took effect on June 1, the company responded with the work stoppages.

Martin and Jackson were initially resistant to Irving’s demands with Jackson even accusing the company of attempting to blackmail the state. But ultimately, the two said they agreed to draft a repeal bill because of the response from local woods workers.

Jackson estimated that 75 percent of the logging industry workers who contacted him just wanted to go back to work with the others urging the state to hold firm. He said he liked the other provisions of the bill, which promise to crack down on companies that use foreign workers out of compliance with existing state and federal laws. Still, Jackson said Wednesday he most likely will not vote for the repeal.

“I agreed to have it introduced and I signed it, but that doesn’t mean I have to vote for it,” Jackson said.

Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith gave a brief statement noting that the Legislature adjourned Wednesday without taking up the repeal measure.

“We appreciate the consideration that is being given to leveling the playing field with one law for all Maine landowners,” Keith said. “We respect the process that is currently under way.”

Keith wrote in an e-mail that 10 to 12 people have already been called back to work in recent days and that 25 who were laid off last week were working this week. The company anticipates employing more than 100 people by next week if the governor’s bill is successful and being at “full capacity based on market demand” the following week, Keith wrote.

Patrick Strauch of the Maine Forest Products Council, which counts Irving as a member, said his organization had been watching the situation from the sidelines. But he said all loggers and timber companies are struggling due in large part to the construction slump brought on by the recession.

“Right now, the situation in the woods is pretty tough,” Strauch said. “A lot of contractors are trying to figure out how to keep people working.”

Sen. Roger Sherman, a Houlton Republican whose district includes some Irving land, described Irving as a good company that provides people with good jobs. Most of the constituents he heard from just wanted the law fixed.

“They basically want to go back to work,” Sherman said.

State House leaders serving on the Legislative Council must approve any bills introduced so late in the session. If approved, lawmakers will have to work quickly to pass the measure amid debate over several other contentious issues — including highway funding, bonds and tax reform — if they want to achieve their goal of adjourning by Friday.

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Comments
30 comments on this item
On 6/10/09 at 2:02 PM, outlaw wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

alright john.finally did something right,any work is better than no work.peace

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On 6/10/09 at 2:46 PM, Hampden1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Per John Martin "I understand where they are coming from" I don't think you do! You should of never introduced this into Legislation in the first place. What a Loser!!

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On 6/10/09 at 2:47 PM, worker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Now IF he would do that with this rsu school bill we'd save even more jobs. Hoe about it there, John?

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On 6/10/09 at 3:54 PM, downbeat wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Folks in Valley need to wake up and elect someone else to represent them. Martin was instrumental in bring Irving to Maine and was rewarded for it ....must have a had a falling out....Gov actually for once is doing the right thing and treat all comapnies in Maine the same and make sure they all follow the labor laws...anytime a law is repealed we should all jump for joy!!

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On 6/10/09 at 4:32 PM, wensdayschild123 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm curious as to what laws the governor is referring to in regards to foreign workers. I would assume that this issue would be regulated at a federal level and that anyone working for a large corporation in the North Maine Woods would have all the required certification and documentation to do so. We certainly have the enforcement power with the US Border Patrol. If there were an inkling of non-compliance with immigration laws in Northern Maine there would be swift enforcement action.

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On 6/10/09 at 4:34 PM, pulpcuttah wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"vote action jackson"

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On 6/10/09 at 10:46 PM, 4thecauze wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I will not vote for Jackson or Martin again-----bunch of losers

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On 6/11/09 at 6:25 AM, Thinkaboutit wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It is so obvious that JACKSON has his own agenda and not the people's - MARTIN & JACKSON BOTH HAVE TO GO...

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On 6/11/09 at 6:49 AM, nmainefamily wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

i agree they do need to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks to the governor for getting our people back to work.

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On 6/11/09 at 8:50 AM, littlegirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Simply ingnorance. The people commenting to this article obviously have no idea what has been going on in the north maine woods and surrounding area. As for you "downbeat," you think people in the valley need to wake up, I think you need to hear some facts. Irving is in a pickle because of labor laws right now, so get your facts right. Unfortunately they don't share that information, I wonder why?$$$$$ As for treating all companies the same, what a joke, you obviously are clueless to the abuse and manipulation Irving places on employees, most would deny due to fear of losing their jobs as some have in the past. As for the others who degrade Troy and John, I don't think you really understand the situation. Changes have to be made and the workers know it and ask for it, unfortunately nothing can be done without the worker suffering and that means everyone is caught. When you make a comment, be sure you understand whats going on, other than that, you're wasting your time and others time.

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On 6/11/09 at 9:09 AM, demsuk64 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Wennsdaychild,

You're right in theory. But if you think for a moment that the Obama government is allowing the Border Patrol or ICE to enforce workplace immigration laws you are out of the loop. The laws exists but government POLICY prohibits their enforcement...ask our senators about it. They support the non-enforcement policies.

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On 6/11/09 at 10:04 AM, EmilyMichaud wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Work that destroys the Maine forests is NOT better than no work. Irving is a vulture and should be kicked out of the state. I will never vote for Martin. He's a disgrace to humanity and totally bogus -- we all know what that means.

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On 6/11/09 at 10:17 AM, judyrohweder wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Get Irving out of Maine. Period.

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On 6/11/09 at 10:22 AM, frostheev wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

HAHAHA..The liberal legislature cant rule over this company...I LOVE IT...GO IRVING!

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On 6/11/09 at 10:25 AM, CeeBlue wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Well done Gov. B--.

It has been a long time since I could say that my friend.

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On 6/11/09 at 10:25 AM, Spruce92 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Who is Jackson representing? 75% of the people who contacted him told him to get them back to work...repeal the law. Yet, he isn't going to vote for the repeal. Shouldn't he be representing his constituency?

As a democrat who lives (not in the Valley) in a district represented by Martin, I have never voted for him. Jackson is not much better. They have their own agendas.

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On 6/11/09 at 11:43 AM, sapereaude wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

How nice that Irving, a closely-held family corporation that offers no shares to the public, can buy Maine's government even more cheaply than they have bought Canada's government. Politicians are nothing more than the dancing girls in a corporate brothel, and it may take a class uprising just to get another piano player, let alone change the government.

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On 6/11/09 at 12:16 PM, MaineGuy50 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

littlegirl: Right back at YOU with your closing sentence; "When you make a comment, be sure you understand whats going on, other than that, you're wasting your time and others time."

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On 6/11/09 at 12:30 PM, JonAlbrecht wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Well Baldacci buckled under Irving's blackmail. Shame.

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On 6/11/09 at 12:52 PM, downbeat wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Little girl i am from the valley...FYI

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On 6/11/09 at 2:06 PM, littlegirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I apologize MaineGuy50, did I say something incorrect?

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On 6/11/09 at 2:29 PM, littlegirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am well aware of the situation, BELIEVE ME..... I pray for the the wives of husbands who work for Irving, that they someday may be able to enjoy their husband. I pray for the man who works for Irving, that he someday might be able to spend time with his family. In the meantime the men will work like dogs, the wives will work, tend to family and they will never really know what the difference is. I, on the other hand, have experienced the difference.

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On 6/11/09 at 3:24 PM, tanker99 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I heard a story the other day, from a person that worked many years in the Irving office. That person told me that contractors would go in to the office, pleading to the so called bosses, not to cut their rate anymore, because their business is in financial ruins due to the past cuts. The bosses had a planned paper in front of them, giving them reasons why they had to cut it. Grown men walked out of there in tears, knowing that there business that they worked so hard to build up, was going to fold shortly. For some people, logging is all they know, especially when your in you 50's and 60's. The person told me, once the logger walked out of the office, bosses and foresters would get together and talk about the conversation they had with the contractor and they would stand there and laugh and mock him. The person that told me this, said they found a job somewhere s else, because they couldn't sleep at night knowing what was taking place to people they knew. People they knew lost their business. It is one thing to let a contractor go, it's another thing to be cold and hateful. Not many people know about stories like this, but some do. Some deny it, and others acknowledge it. There is one thing we all can agree on, we on both sides will never see eye to eye. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions from both sides. Littlegirl..... it sounds like you heard some of those stories.

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On 6/11/09 at 5:04 PM, JoeCentral wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If Labere Bedard didn't get to line his personal pockets selling off the assets of the Great Northern Paper Company financed by Nature Conservancy money I don't think we'd be dealing with an Irving problem like this in Maine. Now, as the article reads, they have enough land to blackmail workers and even the State.

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On 6/11/09 at 5:15 PM, blueskiesaboveme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Sounds like the forest workers and independent contractors need a union. The Workers deserve fair compensation for their sweat and toil.

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On 6/11/09 at 9:42 PM, pulpcuttah wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Irving just tries to tighten the belts of their contractors. Have you seen the Big expensive pickups and the harleys and houses that these contractors have. I went to college there they live pretty high on the hog. Thats just my opinion though

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On 6/11/09 at 9:59 PM, happycamper1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Irving needs closer scrutiny. There are too many complaints to ignore. The logging mafia in Maine needs to get back to business and start treating the workers fairly, then no one would feel the need to pass legislation against anyone. So far at least Irving has resisted I think the urge to turn from a forest products supplier to real estate developers like Plum Creek and Haynes and Gardner to a lesser extent.

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On 6/11/09 at 10:22 PM, Baldy2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Irving reminds me of the "company town"..only in this instance it (State of Maine) could be called a "company state" where the those who worked for the company danced to the company's tune..hate to see my home state held hostage by a foreign corporation..Irv Fletcher

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On 6/12/09 at 9:44 AM, littlegirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Pulpcuttah: Earned it... these men work like dogs... are financed to the top, and try to enjoy one tiny peace of life. Believe me, the pick up may be larger but when Irving forces you to run two shifts and the pick-up runs on thier roads day and night, no S-10 is gonna cut it. As far as houses, if you haven't noticed, the St. John Valley is remarkable in pride when it comes to thier homes, they may not spend a week in the Carribean each year, but when people drive by our homes, they have something nice to look at.

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On 6/12/09 at 9:51 AM, littlegirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Tanker99: sounds like you know whats going on. Those stories are true, and whether office staff and hourly/salary employees want to admit it, doesn't matter. Fact of the matter is, a forestor/woods boss gets a percentage of what he can take from a contractor, what kind of people is Irving creating? A MONSTER!!!

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