To the editor:
After receiving a taxpayer-funded campaign letter in the mail from Rep. Roger Albert of Madawaska, I can no longer remain silent. Roger appears to sell taxpayers the idea that he and Rep. Austin Theriault somehow are responsible for the monies to fix Routes 1, 161, and 11.
Any projects happening now would have been approved long before Roger and Austin were elected to office. For example, Route 161 to Allagash was approved in 2018 and is now being constructed.
In January of this past year, a meeting was held in Madawaska with Roger, Austin and several union officers to ask why they voted for LD1636, Right to Work for Less. Roger said he made a deal to study the extension of Interstate 95 north, in exchange for voting for “Right to Work for Less”. Roger admitted that LD1636 was never going to pass, so he made a deal on a dead bill for what? The Right to work law’s sole purpose is to dismantle unions by allowing members to freeload and not pay their dues, but still reap the benefits of a union contract. By not sharing in the costs of bargaining and representation, unions eventually go bankrupt.
Ironically, I worked with Roger prior to his retirement as a Local 291 member. Roger enjoyed a comfortable life because of the benefits of union contracts over his 33-year career. He continues to receive a retirement paycheck, which his own union fought for, and now has turned his back on all of us to fall in line with his party. He voted for this bill, which would make it illegal for a union security clause in union contracts, and instead allow for freeloaders.
Apparently, Roger and Austin believe in freeloading and disregarded their own unionized Valley people. Imagine how they will “work for less” for the rest of The County, whom they do not even know. I urge all who intend to vote, to hold our lawmakers accountable and not let them put politics over people.
Corey R. Pelletier
President, USW Local 365
Madawaska
