The executive director of the Maine State Employees Association resigned last week to pursue other career options.
Tim Belcher, 54, has been the union’s director since 2005. Before that, he was its legal counsel for 10 years, according to a press release from the union. The union’s board of directors accepted his resignation at a meeting Thursday night. Belcher told the Kennebec Journal that he’d been looking for a new job for about a year, but is still not sure what he’ll do next.
The union faced tough challenges during Belcher’s tenure. In its last session, the Legislature froze merit pay for two years, canceled longevity pay and instituted 20 unpaid shutdown days. The state hiring freeze has also thinned the union’s ranks. The union also has been involved in court battles over collecting a portion of union dues from state employees who choose not to join the union.