The largest union representing Maine government employees has filed a complaint alleging the state violated labor laws by refusing to bargain in good faith.

The complaint, filed Friday with the Maine Labor Relations Board by the Maine Service Employees Association, says the state and its chief negotiator have refused to meet with the union unless the union agrees to demands concerning the size of its bargaining team and whether non-team members should be able to observe negotiations.

“The state has refused to bargain collectively as required by (state law) and has interfered with, restrained and/or coerced employees,” the complaint reads.

The union represents about 9,000 workers in the executive branch of government and includes employees in the departments of education, health and human services and other executive departments.

The two sides have been at odds over how negotiations would be conducted since December, when Bureau of Human Resources Director Brenna Bissell raised concerns about the union’s intent to have a 25-member elected bargaining team, according to the complaint.

Bissell said that size would violate current contract language that limits the union’s negotiating team to 12 members – three from each collective bargaining unit – plus the president and vice president.

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Angela MacWhinnie, the union’s chief negotiator, disagreed, saying that the limit only applies to the number of people who could receive administrative leave to attend...

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