Two Maine unions ratify separate contracts with government employers
The Maine Service Employees Association has voted to ratify a labor agreement with the state, while the Bangor Federation of Public Employees, which represents city mechanics, ratified its contract. Both labor contracts call for wage increases.
The Maine Service Employees Association Local 1989 voted to ratify an agreement with the Mills administration for the 2021-2023 contract period. The approval follows the ratification of a similar contract by members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. Together, the contracts will cover more than 9,000 employees within the state’s executive branch.
Highlights of those pacts include increasing base pay to $15 an hour, raising pay for employees by 2% this December, raising pay by an additional 4% in July 2022 and issuing a one-time $2,000 payment to employees this December.
“Unlike many other states, this administration ensured that no state worker was laid off, furloughed, or suffered a pay freeze amid the pandemic, and we continue to make significant progress toward resolving the pay-gap that exists both for unionized and non-unionized employees across state government,” said Kirsten Figueroa, commissioner for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
“This is a mutual and fair deal for State employees that makes steady progress toward closing the pay-gap for public servants while spending within our means by utilizing funds that had already been budgeted and set aside for this purpose,” Figueroa said.
A compensation study of the state government workforce showed that, as of 2020, state employees were making 15% less than their private sector peers, on average. These ratified labor agreements maintain the state’s balanced budget through fiscal year 2023 without raising taxes.
Meanwhile, the Bangor Federation of Public Employees, who are members of the American Federation Teachers Local 6071, ratified a new contract that includes raises, cost of living increases and allowances for safety gear.
The union represents Bangor’s crew of mechanics who fix and maintain the city’s fleet of buses, police cars, and fire trucks.
Under the new two-year contract the workers will receive a 2% cost of living adjustment raise for each year of the collective bargaining agreement and a 2.5% wage step increase for each year of the contract. The pact also calls for allowances for safety boots, eye wear and other provisions.
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