AUGUSTA — In a preliminary 74 to 68 vote, the Maine House today approved legislation that would eliminate workers’ right to unionize at the DeCoster-owned Quality Egg farm in Turner.

The Legislature in 1997 gave DeCoster workers the right to unionize, a right typically not afforded to agricultural workers.

Supporters of LD 1207 said that the 1997 measure unfairly targets one company, and that the farm since then has made a lot of progress improving working conditions at its facilities.

Opponents said the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration has found numerous worker safey violations in the farm’s facilities.