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State Workers Being Forced To Pay Union Fees

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Maryland's largest state employee union is expecting to see a big increase in funding thanks to a law that allows it to collect fees from nonmembers.

The Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will start collecting fees in mid-July and The Baltimore Sun reports that the union could see a $4.7 million gain over the fiscal year.

The fees are allowed under The Fair Share Act, which the state legislature passed in 2009, and will take as much as $389 dollars annually from some of the 12,500 state workers.

Union officials say the extra money will allow them to improve services, but some state workers say they don't have a lot of faith in unions.

The fees will also be collected by smaller unions.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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