Dick Rogers of West Gardiner is a nearly 40-year employee in the utility industry and was business manager for IBEW 1837 for nearly 10 years representing approximately 1,600 workers in Maine and New Hampshire.
Having worked in the utility industry for nearly 40 years and having served as the business manager for IBEW Local 1837 representing approximately 1,600 workers in Maine and New Hampshire, I was shocked to learn that the Maine Legislature is considering LD 1963, An Act to Protect and Compensate Public Utility Whistleblowers.
That’s why I’m blowing a whistle of my own.
While the name of this bill might be appealing to some, I think this legislation is actually a slap in the face to Maine’s workers. The bill creates new workplace standards that I believe risk undermining communication, transparency, trust, and so many other important union and workplace values.
First, LD 1963 would establish a compensation scheme that would create financial incentives for whistleblowers. Programs like these have long been controversial because they can promote speculation, incomplete reporting, and false accusations against other employees.
Next, this bill would eliminate requirements for employees who have identified workplace concerns to first report these problems to their employer. There are a lot of good reasons to notify an employer of a problem first, especially at utility companies. With so many complex policies and projects, a worker may inadvertently misinterpret lawful work...
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