Maine's Governor LePage has ordered state workers to remove a 35-foot, 11-panel mural from Maine's state Department of Labor that depicts the state's labor history. This mural features prominent figures and events, such as Frances Perkins, first women cabinet member in American history, Rosie the Riveter, child laborers, the Lewiston shoe-factory strike of 1937 and the International Paper Mill strike in Jay in 1987-88, among many other things. The mural, paid for by private donations and hung in 2008, is a representation of the state's historical facts.

Due to the complaints of several unidentified people, LePage has decided the Department of Labor is an inappropriate setting for the mural as those who have complained see it as taking the union's side over management's. A spokesperson for the Governor says they must remove the mural to prevent imbalance within the labor department. But removing the mural won't change history.

In addition to the removal of the mural, LePage wants to rename the eight conference rooms in the Department of Labor that have been named for historical figures and activists relevant to the state's labor movement, such as Cesar Chavez and Frances Perkins. The mural and these figures are not in alignment with the governor's pro-business agenda.

The New York Times indicated today the Governor's office is looking into having this mural placed in the Maine State Museum; however, this does not prevent the department's conference rooms from being renamed and it is another slight to Maine's workers. It is potentially a sign of things to come and certainly an indication of the governor's sentiments toward the state's work-force and unions, and we must put a stop to it.