Organizing & Field Services

        

Organizing & Field Services Program

Purpose: The Organizing & Field Services Program is designed to provide PFFMaine affiliates with quality labor/employee-management representation, education for local union officers, and provides financial assistance to PFFMaine Affiliates to help defray the cost of fulfilling their representational responsibilities through grants or an interest free loan.    

Background: Since June 1989 the PFFMaine has been providing labor-management representation and/or services to PFFMaine affiliates that participate in and paid for services under the PFFMaine’s Full-Service Program. These services included but were not limited to organizing new IAFF/PFFMaine affiliates, assisting new locals in obtaining the exclusive recognition, contract negotiations, grievance/arbitration preparation/presentation, preparing and processing ULP charges, representing employees exposed to disciplinary actions, provided training for local union leaders and legal assistance as necessary. These services have been historically provided by the PFFMaine’s District Vice-Presidents and our Staff Representative.  Since 1989, the PFFMaine amended the Full-Service Program in 1994, 1996 and 2001 and 2012 created the Organizing & Field Services Policy to replace the Full-Service Program. The Organizing & Field Services Program and its related services and fees have not been reviewed and/or revised since April 2012. 

Scope: The Organizing & Field Services Program is available to “all” IAFF affiliates that belong to the PFFMaine. The current PFFMaine/IAFF Affiliates participating in the existing Organizing & Field Services Program agree to amend and maintain the Organizing & Field Services Program based on the terms/conditions of our establish policy. The current PFFMaine/IAFF Affiliate[s] that are not participating in the Organizing & Field Services Program were grandfathered in July 2012 from the Organozing & Field Service Program, unless they express an interest in participating in the program. All new PFFMaine affiliates will be required to participate in the Organizing/Field Services Program as outlined in this policy.

Please take the time to review the attached policy and associated attachments. If you should have any questions, need additional information and/or see  the need to discuss any of the policy further and/or have a need to request assistance/service under this policy, please contact your respective District Vice-President.


1. PFFMaine's Organizing & Field Services Policy January 2019

2. IAFF Sample Contract Language 2019

3. IAFF Fair Labor Standards Act [FLSA] Manual

4. Maine Labor Relations Statute Title 26, Chapter 9

5. Maine Labor Relation Board's Rules  

    Chapter 10: General Rules

    Chapter 11: Bargaining Unit Composition and Representation Matters

    Chapter 12: Prohibited Practice Complaints; Interpretive Rulings

    Chapter 13: Resolution of Contract Negotiations Disputes

6. Maine Labor Relation Board's Forms

MLRB Form 1 (pdf file). Agreement on Appropriate Unit.

This form is used when the employer and union have agreed upon the composition
of a bargaining unit or have agreed upon a change in the composition of the unit.


MLRB Form 2a (pdf file). Petition for Election or Unit Determination.

This form is for elections and unit determination issues. It is used to petition for a bargaining agent election or a decertification election as well as to petition for a unit determination when the employer and union have not agreed upon the make up of a new bargaining unit.


MLRB Form 2b (pdf file). Petition for Unit Clarification or Unit Merger.

This form is for unit clarification and unit merger issues. It can only be filed by the employer or the incumbent bargaining agent.


MLRB Form 2c (pdf file). Petition for Bargaining Agent Certification By Majority Sign-up.

This form is for bargaining agent certification when there is demonstration of majority support. It can only be filed when no other bargaining agent is currently certified or recognized.

For more information, click here: Majority Sign-up


MLRB Form 3 (pdf file). Voluntary Recognition.

This form is used when the employer voluntarily recognizes a bargaining agent as the representative of employees in a bargaining unit.


MLRB Form 4 (pdf file). Request for Fact-Finding Panel.

This form is used when one or both parties wish to submit their collective bargaining dispute to a fact-finding panel.


MLRB Form 5 (pdf file). Mediation Request.

This form is used when a party wishes to request the assistance of a mediator assigned from the Panel of Mediators.


MLRB Form 6 (pdf file). Mutual Request to Waive Fact Finding.

This form is used when the parties wish to waive fact finding.


MLRB Form 7 (pdf file). Prohibited Practice Complaint.

This form is used to submit a Prohibited Practice Complaint to the Board.


7. 


Oct 17, 2019
The Organizing & Field Services Program is designed to provide PFFMaine affiliates with quality labor/employee-management representation, education for local union officers, and provides financial assistance to PFFMaine Affiliates to help defray the cost of fulfilling their representational responsibilities through grants or an interest free loan.
Jun 02, 2022

Download:
MLRB.IAFF.5.17.22.training.pdf

Oct 17, 2019
Interest-based bargaining, also called preventive mediation, is an attempt to move labor and management from traditional confrontational and positional bargaining to problem-solving bargaining. The interest-based bargaining approach is centered on jointly identifying issues and exploring the different possible solutions. The parties are encouraged to work together to find solutions to each other's problems. They do not come to the bargaining table with proposals as in traditional bargaining. Instead, they present problems to be solved and work together to seek solutions. The PFFMaine supports the use of IBB when negotiating our contracts with our employers and to utilize the principles of IBB when creating your Labor-Management Committees. Contact your District Vice-President for additional information about how to get started utilizing the principles of IBB>
Sep 27, 2019
This information is provided by the IAFF to assist Local Union Leaders in fulfilling their duties & responsibilities as Local Union Officers.
Oct 17, 2019
This file contains "sample" language for IAFF/PFFMaine Affiliates to used for their Ground Rules that will govern their Contract Negotiations. Should you have any questions, need additional assistance/information and/or need to discuss further, please contact your District Vice-President.
Oct 17, 2019

Apr 17, 2022
A series of questions have arisen related to the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31. After a summary of the decision, answers to those questions are set forth below. The questions and responses involve the rights of union members and non- members.
Download:
Memorandum_Questions Arising as a Result to the US Supreme Court's Recet Decision in Janus 7.27.18.pdf

Oct 01, 2021



Page Last Updated: Oct 17, 2019 (11:20:00)
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