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Postal workers reassemble sorting machines, solar & more

Andy O’Brien
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IN THIS EDITION

  • Machinists Call on Senator Collins to Take Down False Ad About BIW
  • IBEW 567 Members Step Up Recruitment Efforts Amid Solar Boom
  • APWU Members Reassemble Dismantled Sorting Machine
  • Calais Nurses Meet with Speaker Gideon About Contract Fight
  • ME AFL Pres. Cynthia Phinney Introduces Sen. Warren at Campaign Rally 

State Council of Machinists Call on Senator Collins to Take Down False Ad About BIW

[caption caption="Local S6 members John Upham & Garrett Stewart call out Susan Collins' lies in a new ad." align="center"][/caption]


Senator Susan Collins’ campaign recently released a new ad falsely claiming that she supported IAM Local S6 workers on strike and actively worked to end the strike this summer. The Maine State Council of Machinists has called on the Collins campaign to take down this false ad, pointing out that Senator Collins ignored requests from BIW workers and Machinists Local S6 union leaders to take action to support their fight for a fair contract during their negotiations and 9 week strike.

One of the reasons Senator Collins was unwilling to support striking workers is because she took more than $21,000 dollars in campaign contributions from BIW and General Dynamics senior management in the weeks leading up to the IAM S6 strike.

"Hardworking Mainers don’t take credit for things they didn’t do, but Senator Collins is trying to rewrite history — her cynical political tactics show why we are supporting Sara Gideon this year,” said Maine State Council of Machinists President Mark Vigliotta.“When the Machinists union asked Senator Collins to intervene on behalf of our striking members, she refused, but when we asked Sara Gideon to support us, she grabbed a sign and walked the picket line with our brothers and sisters at Local S6. Sara showed that she stands with working Mainers, and that’s the kind of leadership we need."

Click here to see an ad featuring Local S6 members setting the record straight!

IBEW 567 Members Step Up Recruitment Efforts Amid Solar Boom

[caption caption="IBEW 567 members working on a solar project." align="center"][/caption]


IBEW Local 567 has been stepping up their efforts to recruit electricians to fill the many job openings on  solar power projects around the state. Due to policy changes in the Legislature encouraging clean energy, numerous solar projects have been green lighted. As a result, the union and its contractors have had to be creative in order to keep up with the demand for labor.

“We’ve got people working everywhere,” said IBEW 567 labor rep Jim Valente. “I’ve never seen business booming like this in my 33 years of being in this local.”

Currently, IBEW 567 members are working on a 6-megawatt solar project in Baldwin and another one in Buxton. IBEW 567 members are also hard at work on the Maine Medical Center and Mercy Hospital expansions as well as a high rise on Commercial Street in Portland and a natural gas compressor station in Westbrook. Valente said the Westbrook job is paying 30 percent over the pay scale just to get workers there. He added that the local is currently offering a $1000 bonus to members who recruit electricians and another $1000 for new hires. 

“In the next five years, 80 of our members are eligible to retire,” said Valente. “We need young, new blood, we need them fast and we need a lot of them.”

For more information about job opportunities visit IBEW 567’s website.

APWU Members Reassemble Dismantled Sorting Machine

[caption caption="A mail sorting machine like the one APWU members reassembled." align="center"][/caption]


Postal workers with APWU 458 have reassembled one of two high-speed letter sorting machines that were ordered dismantled over the summer. According to WMTW-TV, the machine can sort more than 20,000 letters in an hour went back into operation last Thursday. APWU 458 pressured management to restore the machine in order to deliver ballots and other election mail more quickly. 

The decision to reassemble the machines came as a result of court rulings that blocked changes enacted by by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. As a result, USPS relaxed policies that prohibited overtime, late trips, extra trips, and the dismantling of sorting machines. Management agreed to APWU 458’s request to reassemble the dismantled sorting machine.

“We believe we are able to 'negotiate the pandemic-impacted elections’ and trust that Mainers have confidence in our ability to do so,” said APWU 458 President Scott Adams. “The Union also believes that this shows that DeJoy's policies are not conducive to how the Postal Service needs to be flexible in its operations, now, and in the future.”

Calais Nurses meet with Speaker Gideon about contract fight

[caption caption="US Senate candidate Sara Gideon with Calais MSNA/NNU members." align="center"][/caption]


On Friday Calais nurses, members of the Maine State Nurses Association/NNU, met with Speaker Sara Gideon to discuss their ongoing fight for a fair contract. Following the meeting, the National Nurses United tweeted:

Thank you Sara Gideon for meeting with Maine Nurses Union leaders to discuss the ongoing struggle for a fair and just contract at Calais Regional Hospital – one that helps protect us and our patients. Nurses and healthcare workers need a strong advocate in the US Senate. 

Stay tuned for more updates on how other union members and allies can support Calais nurses and healthcare workers in their fight for a fair contract. 

ME AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney Introduces Sen. Warren at Campaign Rally in Lewiston

[caption caption="Maine AFL-CIO Cynthia Phinney & Sen. Elizabeth Warren." align="right"][/caption]

Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney introduced US Senator Elizabeth Warren at a campaign rally for Presidential candidate Joe Biden at the IBEW 567 Hall in Lewiston last Saturday. Phinney noted that November 3rd will be “one of the most important days for democracy in our country’s history.” Sen. Warren encouraged rally goers to oust Sen. Susan Collins for supporting policies that have harmed Mainers over these past for years. She said that the election “is literally about life and death” as more that 210,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus due to the failures of the Trump administration.

Have you come across any Maine labor history artifacts like photos, documents, posters and other vintage local union materials? Please let us know! We are trying to build a larger archive of Maine labor artifacts to educate workers about our proud history of collective struggles. Email Andy at MaineAFLCIO dot org for details!