The State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation, in this subchapter called "the board," consists of 3 members appointed by the Governor from time to time upon the expiration of the terms of the several members for terms of 3 years. One member must be an employer of labor or selected from an association representing employers of labor, and another must be an employee or selected from a bona fide trade or labor union. The 3rd member must represent the public interests of the State and serves as chair. Vacancies occurring during a term must be filled for the unexpired term. When meeting to deliberate or vote with respect to a matter before the board, members of the board are entitled to receive $150 a day per meeting for their services for the time actually employed in the discharge of their official duties. For all other purposes, members of the board are entitled to receive $300 a day for their services for the time actually employed in the discharge of their official duties. They are entitled to receive their traveling and all other necessary expenses. The costs for services rendered and expenses incurred by the State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation and any state allocation program charges must be shared equally by the parties to the proceedings and must be paid into a special fund administered by the Maine Labor Relations Board. Authorization for services rendered and expenditures incurred by the State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation is the responsibility of the Executive Director of the Maine Labor Relations Board. All costs must be paid from that special fund. The executive director may estimate costs upon receipt of a request for services and collect those costs prior to providing the services. The executive director shall bill or reimburse the parties, as appropriate, for any difference between the estimated costs that were collected and the actual costs of providing the services. Once one party has paid its share of the estimated cost of providing the service, the matter is scheduled for hearing. A party who has not paid an invoice for the estimated or actual cost of providing services within 60 days of the date the invoice was issued is, in the absence of good cause shown, liable for the amount of the invoice together with a penalty in the amount of 25% of the amount of the invoice. Any penalty amount collected pursuant to this section remains in the special fund administered by the Maine Labor Relations Board and that fund does not lapse. The executive director is authorized to collect any sums due and payable pursuant to this section through civil action. In such an action, the court shall allow litigation costs, including court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, to be deposited in the General Fund if the executive director is the prevailing party in the action. The executive director shall, annually, on or before July 1st, make a report of the activities of the State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation to the Governor. The board shall from time to time adopt rules of procedure as it determines necessary, including rules for the Logging Dispute Resolution Board pursuant to chapter 47. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. [PL 2021, c. 665, §3 (AMD).] Six alternate members, having the same qualifications as members, and 2 being from each category, shall be appointed in the same manner and for the same terms as members and shall, when serving as members of the board, have the same responsibilities and duties and be entitled to the same privileges and emoluments as members. [PL 1985, c. 294, §§2, 3 (NEW).] When, for any reason, a member of the board does not serve in any particular case, the alternate member having the same qualifications shall act as a member of the board in that case. [PL 1985, c. 294, §§2, 3 (NEW).] The board's responsibility is to further harmonious labor-management relations in this State. It may serve as a board of inquiry or as a board of conciliation in the private sector, or as a board of arbitration in either the public or private sector, as long as the parties appearing before it so agree. A member of the board may not participate in any case in which the member has a personal interest. [RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. E, §39 (COR).] Workers shall have full freedom of association, self organization and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection, free from interference, restraint or coercion by their employers or other persons. It shall be the duty of the board to endeavor to settle disputes, strikes and lockouts between employers and employees. [PL 1985, c. 294, §§2, 3 (NEW).] An employer shall not retaliate against any employee who may have petitioned or sought the assistance of the board pursuant to this subchapter or for having provided information or testimony in this subchapter. [PL 1985, c. 294, §§2, 3 (NEW).]
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