Drivers Unionize, UMaine Workers Protest & More

IN THIS EDITION:

• Museum Workers Call on Management to Cease Union Busting Tactics
• Waterville KVCAP Drivers Organize a Union with Machinists S-89
• Join UMaine Workers Protesting Retiree Health Care Cuts — Thurs. Oct. 29th
• Sen. Collins took $21,400 from Senior BIW Management Right Before Strike
• Please Support This Year’s Solidarity Harvest for Mainers in Need!

Portland Museum Workers Call on Management to Cease Union Busting Tactics

[caption caption="CRAIG BECKER / COURTESY PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART" align="center"][/caption]

Workers at the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) are calling on management to cease union busting tactics and respect the rights of the workers to organize. PMA employees — including curators, registrars, education staff and other front-facing staff — petitioned the National Labor Relations Board last month for a union election, citing low pay rates and job security as major reasons for their decision. They are organizing their union with UAW Local 2110, which represents museum workers in the Northeast.

Employees at the museum and the union asked the museum to remain neutral and let workers decide for themselves on whether they want to unionize. Unfortunately, management is attempting to interfere in the union formation process by intimidating workers and employing other anti-worker tactics pulled straight from the corporate union busting playbook.

"The response from PMA leadership has been far from neutral. It's hard to believe that they aren't anti-union when leadership uses all-staff meetings to control the narrative about the union process and makes staff feel isolated and targeted for vocalizing support. These tactics we’re seeing at the PMA align with classic anti-union campaigns,” said Meredith Wiemer, a registrar at the PMA.

Museum management is also contesting the type of election workers have requested as well as the inclusion of twenty-nine employees who work as gallery ambassadors and security associates, claiming that all are security guards who therefore should not be allowed to vote to be in the same union as other employees. 

Waterville KVCAP Drivers Organize a Union with Machinists S-89

Twenty drivers with with Kennebec Valley Community Action Partners (KVCAP) in Waterville voted overwhelmingly this week to form a union with the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local S-89. The drivers will join the same bargaining unit as KVCAP drivers in Augusta, who formed their union last year.

“Our decision to form a union was driven by the company’s refusal to respect the experience of longtime drivers when determining wages, employee favoritism and a disciplinary system that offered workers no due process,” said Waterville KVCAP driver Mark Goggin. “After years of having no power in the workplace, we realized that the only way we could have any influence in company decisions was to form a union."

Earlier this year, Augusta KVCAP drivers ratified their first contract, which included pay increases, improved leave of absence and winter weather day policies, signing bonuses, a grievance procedure, the establishment of a new safety committee and other important victories. Waterville drivers will now also get the benefits of this hard-fought contract.

UMaine Workers to Protest Retiree Health Care Cuts — Oct. 29th

The University of Maine has made the terrible decision to unilaterally cut retiree health insurance benefits - in the midst of a global pandemic - without bargaining with any of the unions or consulting retirees. As a result, retirees will be forced to pay thousands more dollars to keep basic health care. 

Please join UMaine workers next Thursday Oct. 29, 11:30am - 1pm at the offices of James Erwin, the Chair of the UMaine system Board of Trustees, at 254 Commercial Street in Portland to protest this cruel and unfair decision. Members of the Maine Education Association would welcome any support from other union members in the area. 

If you can make it, please fill out this link to sign up. Please wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Sen. Collins took $21,400 from Senior BIW & GD Management Weeks Before Machinists S6 Strike

[caption caption="An excerpt from Sen. Collins' Federal Election Commission report." align="center"][/caption]

Sen. Susan Collins took $21,400 in campaign contributions from senior management at Bath Iron Works and General Dynamics in the weeks leading up to the shipbuilders’ vote to strike on June 23, according to campaign finance reports. BIW president Dirk Lesko, who oddly describes himself a “shipbuilder” on his finance reports, gave Collins $2,800, the maximum individual contribution allowed in federal elections. 

The contributions are curiously timed as they came just days before IAM Local S6 voted to go on strike. Collins famously refused to take a side in strike and would not support striking workers despite repeated requests from the union. Sen. Collins only showed up on the picket lines once for a brief photo op. Speaker Sara Gideon, on the other hand, walked the picket lines, met with the bargaining committee, attended contract rallies and put pressure on the company to settle a fair contract. 

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Please Support This Year’s Solidarity Harvest for Mainers in Need!

As tens of thousands of Mainers struggle due to the economic and public health crises, the need for Food and Medicine and the Eastern Maine Labor Council’s annual Solidarity Harvest has dramatically increased. This year, the groups will distribute 1,400 Thanksgiving meal baskets - with food from local farmers - to Mainers in need. 

Baskets are distributed through local unions to members laid off or in need as a way to strengthen the union. Baskets are also shared with community members. 

Unions or nonprofit organizations who are able are encouraged to help Solidarity Harvest reach its fundraising goal of $55,000. Groups that donate a minimum of $300 can have their logo included on each meal box. A donation of $1000 or more gets prime logo placement. 

To have your logo included, a pledge is required by October 23rd . For more information, or to notify FAM of your pledge or number of baskets, please contact Melissa Smith at Melissa@foodandmedicine.org or 207-989-5860.