Council: Logging law hurts ME mills
Debate is stirring over whether a new Maine law prohibiting Canadian loggers from receiving unemployment during the off-season will lead to a shortage of wood supply for the state's mills.
The Maine Forest Products Council sent a letter earlier this month to Gov. John Baldacci and the Canadian government asking for help to offset what it says are negative effects of the law, signed in April, which prevents Canadian workers employed in Maine under the federal bonded labor program from qualifying for Maine unemployment during the mud season when harvesting is stopped, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. The council says the law -- intended to ensure domestic workers are sought before foreign workers per federal law -- could make it hard for logging contractors to find qualified labor, leading to a shortage in wood supply for mills.
Baldacci's spokesman and Deputy Chief of Staff David Farmer, however, told MPBN those concerns are "premature," and that there appears to be no widespread problem of contractors finding skilled workers. Sen. Troy Jackson of Allagash, a bill sponsor, opposed the council's efforts, and told MPBN the bonded labor program has been exploited by contractors who prefer to hire Canadian workers whose health insurance is already paid for by their government.
Go to the article from MPBN >>
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