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The University of Maine

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Articles 61 - 90 of 213

Full-Text Articles in Law

Who Pays And Who Benefits: 21st Century Tax Reform For Maine, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2010

Who Pays And Who Benefits: 21st Century Tax Reform For Maine, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

Most people do not enjoy paying taxes, which are the primary source of revenue for governments at all levels, but most people also probably agree that ultimately, some kind of taxation is necessary. However, public support for taxes is greatly influenced by perceptions of whether tax systems are fair or equitable, and these perceptions are unfortunately not always based on factual information or clear understanding. The ongoing debate over Maine’s latest attempt at tax reform is no exception.


Responsible Contractors Help Build Thriving Communities, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2010

Responsible Contractors Help Build Thriving Communities, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

What is responsible contractor language, and why is it important? Public construction projects are often costly undertakings. In recent years, municipalities and schools are increasingly using responsible contractor policies to "set certain minimum employment standards" for bidding on construction work. In response to this trend, responsible contractor (RC) language is being developed and used to provide needed reform in the construction contract bidding process. According to a recent study of responsible contractor reforms, the public policy goal of these reforms is to "ensure that all contracts for public works are awarded to reputable, responsible finns that have the qualifications, resources …


The Minimum Wage: Two Generations Of Neglect Add Up, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2010

The Minimum Wage: Two Generations Of Neglect Add Up, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

Although a three-step raise in the Federal minimum wage that ended in July, 2009 is projected to generate a total of $10.4 billion in increased consumer spending,2 a survey of the wage situation in the U.S. today suggests that recent raises to the minimum wage are inadequate. Both Maine and the nation have been plagued by serious wage stagnation for many years. The overextended credit that helped fuel the recent economic crisis was exacerbated by what has been called a “collapse of hourly wage growth” by the Economic Policy Institute. In the longer term, the inflation-adjusted value of the minimum …


Update On Labor's Demographics, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2010

Update On Labor's Demographics, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

As in years past, unionization levels have continued to vary widely according to demographic and occupational characteristics of the U.S. workforce, as well as geographic region. The unionization level of the total employed U.S. wage and salary workforce is one measure. However, in order to obtain a more balanced perspective, it is also important to consider the specific levels of union membership in both public and private sector areas of employment, which play a significant role in the U.S. economy. Using data compiled and supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, this briefing paper provides a statistical summary of unionization …


The Maine Women's Advocate (2010 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2010

The Maine Women's Advocate (2010 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


Towards Voluntary Interoperable Open Access Licenses For The Global Earth Observation System Of Systems (Geoss), Harlan J. Onsrud, Bastian Van Loenen Jan 2010

Towards Voluntary Interoperable Open Access Licenses For The Global Earth Observation System Of Systems (Geoss), Harlan J. Onsrud, Bastian Van Loenen

Spatial Information Science and Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Access to earth observation data has become critically important for the wellbeing of society. A major impediment to achieving widespread sharing of earth observation data is lack of an operational web-wide system that is transparent and consistent in allowing users to legally access and use the earth observations of others without seeking permission from data contributors or investigating terms of usage on a case-by-case basis. This article explores approaches to supplying a license-based system to overcome this impediment in the context of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. It discusses the benefits and drawbacks of the explored approaches and …


Requiem For An Industry, Charles A. Scontras Jul 2009

Requiem For An Industry, Charles A. Scontras

Bureau of Labor Education

In April, the Lewiston City Council voted to demolish the massive Bates Mill No. 5, the last component of the original textile giant, dating from 1850, that is owned by the city. The decision graphically symbolizes the burial of a textile industry. When the textile mills arrived in Maine, public officials viewed them as cathedrals of prosperity and progress, while workers welcomed the opportunity to earn a livelihood. Labor reformers, however, often viewed them as corporate entities that regimented life and work, describing them as "tombs for the living," "living hells," and "prison factories." Over the years, labor made sporadic …


Thresholds And The Mismatch Between Environmental Laws And Ecosystems, Malcolm L. Hunter Jr., Michael J. Bean, David Lindenmayer, David S. Wilcove Jul 2009

Thresholds And The Mismatch Between Environmental Laws And Ecosystems, Malcolm L. Hunter Jr., Michael J. Bean, David Lindenmayer, David S. Wilcove

Publications

No abstract provided.


Stretching The Law Ii: The Misclassification Of Employees As Independent Contractors, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Apr 2009

Stretching The Law Ii: The Misclassification Of Employees As Independent Contractors, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

The misclassification of many employees as “independent contractors” (ICs) is problematic in a number of industries and employment situations. An earlier paper by the Bureau of Labor Education (BLE) found widespread violations of IC classification in the state’s construction industry. This paper provides a broader context for this issue with a discussion of the legal climate nationally.


Fair Pay And Fair Contracting: Maine's Prevailing Wage Laws, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2009

Fair Pay And Fair Contracting: Maine's Prevailing Wage Laws, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

Roads, schools, bridges, government buildings, public hospitals – these are all examples of public works projects. Most states in the U.S., following the lead of the federal government, require that workers in such construction projects must be paid the “prevailing wage” for their occupation, industry and local geographic area. There is substantial research showing that prevailing wage (P.W.) laws can be an important element of economic development and economic stimulus plans, benefiting states, communities, businesses, workers and taxpayers in several ways. Prevailing wage laws: • can benefit communities, states and taxpayers by helping to ensure the most reliable, productive and …


The Maine Women's Advocate (2009 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2009

The Maine Women's Advocate (2009 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


The Maine Women's Advocate (2009 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2009

The Maine Women's Advocate (2009 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


Liability For Spatial Data Quality, Harlan J. Onsrud Jan 2009

Liability For Spatial Data Quality, Harlan J. Onsrud

Spatial Information Science and Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Liability in data, products, and services related to geographic information systems, spatial data infrastructure, location based services and web mapping services, is complicated by the complexities and uncertainties in liability for information system products and services generally, as well as by legal theory uncertainties surrounding liability for maps. Each application of geospatial technologies to a specific use may require integration of different types of data from multiple sources, assessment of attributes, adherence to accuracy and fitness-for-use requirements, and selection from among different analytical processing methods. All of these actions may be fraught with possible misjudgments and errors. A variety of …


Restoring The Right To Organize: Impacts Of The Employee Free Choice Act, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Oct 2008

Restoring The Right To Organize: Impacts Of The Employee Free Choice Act, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

There has been growing controversy over a proposed new labor relations law called the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also known as the “card check” bill. This briefing paper provides an overview of the Employee Free Choice Act, its context and rationale, and its implications for both workers’ abilities to organize and democratic rights in the workplace.


Hot Jobs Update: 2008 Outlook For Maine's Women Workers, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Apr 2008

Hot Jobs Update: 2008 Outlook For Maine's Women Workers, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

This paper on the occupational outlook for Maine’s women workers is intended as an update to the Bureau of Labor Education’s previous briefing papers on this topic. These earlier papers showed that despite many upbeat analyses of the best “hot new jobs” that will be available to women workers in the next decade, the largest occupations available to women workers in Maine will continue to be primarily jobs with low wages and little economic security. What do more recent data suggest about these issues?


Attaining Occupational Health And Safety Through Education, Engineering, And Enforcement, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Apr 2008

Attaining Occupational Health And Safety Through Education, Engineering, And Enforcement, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

Every year, many workers in Maine and elsewhere in the United States are injured or killed on the job, or develop work-related illnesses. While most injured workers may have access to Workers’ Compensation benefits, such compensation does not make up for extended and sometimes permanent pain and disability. Clearly it is more sensible for employers and workers to focus on the prevention of occupational accidents, injuries and illnesses than to deal with the consequences after the fact.


Privatization Pitfalls Update, 2008, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Apr 2008

Privatization Pitfalls Update, 2008, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

Policymakers at the local, state, and federal government levels often struggle to balance the imperatives of providing necessary public services with the constraints of shrinking funds to pay for services such as transportation, prisons, and human services. Among the many possible solutions public entities may consider is the strategy of privatization, defined as “any process that is aimed at shifting functions and responsibilities, in whole or in part, from the government to the private sector through such activities as contracting out or asset sales.” This briefing paper is an update to an earlier publication by the Bureau of Labor Education …


A Maine Guide To Employment Law, Gabrielle Berube, James Davitt Jan 2008

A Maine Guide To Employment Law, Gabrielle Berube, James Davitt

Bureau of Labor Education

This second edition of A Maine Guide to Employment Law is both a continuation and evolution of five previous editions of A Workers’ Guide to Labor Law, first published by the Bureau of Labor Education in 1974. This present work, representing the collective efforts and contributions of many of the Bureau’s staff—past and present, seeks to retain the readability and clarity that has been the hallmark of past editions. Our continuing objective is to provide important information on employee rights, protections, and responsibilities at the workplace or site, in easy-to-understand language.


The Maine Women's Advocate (2008 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2008

The Maine Women's Advocate (2008 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


Testimony Of Melvin Burke Professor Of Economics University Of Maine, Orono, Maine, Regarding Zp 707 Plum Creek Petition For Rezoning Moosehead Region, Melvin Burke Aug 2007

Testimony Of Melvin Burke Professor Of Economics University Of Maine, Orono, Maine, Regarding Zp 707 Plum Creek Petition For Rezoning Moosehead Region, Melvin Burke

School of Economics Faculty Scholarship

Plum Creek’s “Concept Plan” is a petition requesting LURC to rezone approximately 426,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake area. According to LURC’s fact sheet, a concept plan is a landowner-created, long-range plan of the “landowner’s intent”, a flexible alternative to traditional subdivision and development plans. It is not a business plan, a project plan, or a concrete real estate development plan. Webster’s unabridged dictionary defines “concept” as a “thought”, “an idea,” a “notion”, which is precisely what Plum Creek’s concept plan is--a thought, an idea, a scheme (plan) for making, arranging or doing something, having in mind a purpose.


Recognizing And Preventing Hazards In The Construction Industry, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2007

Recognizing And Preventing Hazards In The Construction Industry, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

By the nature of the work, the construction industry is very hazardous and dangerous. These dangers are multiplied still further when workers and supervisors employed in this industry are working at manufacturing sites such as pulp and paper mills. This handbook deals with the following hazards confronting workers and employers in construction, which have been identified by OSHA as priority areas for hazard recognition and prevention: • fall hazards on the same level or from a higher to a lower one; • being struck by or against any hazardous materials, equipment, or vehicles; • getting caught on, caught in, or …


Stretching The Law, Stressing The State Misclassified Workers In Maine's Construction Industry, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2007

Stretching The Law, Stressing The State Misclassified Workers In Maine's Construction Industry, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

The classification of independent contractors (ICs) is problematic in a number of industries and employment situations. This paper is intended as a survey of IC issues as they affect the construction industry in Maine. Construction companies have recourse to hourly labor for much of their work requirements, but like many other businesses, they also often employ independent contractors for some parts of their various building contracts. There is considerable evidence that these two job categories are being manipulated by some employers to bypass the legal intent of IC classification. A 2000 report produced for the U.S. Department of Labor found …


The Maine Women's Advocate (2007 - Fall), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2007

The Maine Women's Advocate (2007 - Fall), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


The Maine Women's Advocate (2007 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2007

The Maine Women's Advocate (2007 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


The Maine Women's Advocate (2007 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2007

The Maine Women's Advocate (2007 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


Big Opportunities In Access To "Small Science" Data, Harlan J. Onsrud, James Dunbar Campbell Jan 2007

Big Opportunities In Access To "Small Science" Data, Harlan J. Onsrud, James Dunbar Campbell

Spatial Information Science and Engineering Faculty Scholarship

A distributed infrastructure that would enable those who wish to do so to contribute their scientific or technical data to a universal digital commons could allow such data to be more readily preserved and accessible among disciplinary domains. Five critical issues that must be addressed in developing an efficient and effective data commons infrastructure are described. We conclude that creation of a distributed infrastructure meeting the critical criteria and deployable throughout the networked university library community is practically achievable.


What Counts, And Who's Counting? Maine's Business Climate 2006, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine Jan 2006

What Counts, And Who's Counting? Maine's Business Climate 2006, Bureau Of Labor Education. University Of Maine

Bureau of Labor Education

Many news articles and opinion pieces continue to argue that Maine has a highly unfavorable business climate, which must be changed if Maine’s economic well-being is to improve. Such analyses raise many important questions about what policies are most likely to benefit Maine’s economy, both as a whole, and among the various areas, communities, and population segments within Maine. Increasingly, the health of Maine’s economy, and the level of the state’s well-being more broadly, seem to be equated with the issue of whether Maine has a “friendly” business climate. In turn, the question of a favorable or unfavorable business climate …


The Maine Women's Advocate (2006 - Fall), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2006

The Maine Women's Advocate (2006 - Fall), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


The Maine Women's Advocate (2006 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2006

The Maine Women's Advocate (2006 - Summer), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.


The Maine Women's Advocate (2006 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff Jan 2006

The Maine Women's Advocate (2006 - Winter), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.