As many of you know, the workers at Bates College in Lewiston have come together to form a union- the Bates Educators and Staff Organization (BESO).
They are organizing to have a voice on the job and a seat at the table when decisions are made that affect them and their work. They are forming a “wall to wall” union where workers across job classifications come together in their common interests and goals, so the union will include everyone except managers and tenured or tenure track faculty. Workers from dining services, housekeeping, grounds and maintenance, athletics, administration, adjunct and contingent faculty and more have come together around their shared vision for a more fair and equitable workplace. You can read their mission statement here.
Unfortunately, Bates College administration has hired expensive union-busting consultants to attempt to dissuade the workers from voting for the union. We believe the decision whether to form a union is the workers’ to make, not management’s.
We want to show these workers that we in the community have their backs. Here are 3 ways you can help.
If you live in Androscoggin County, sign-up to put up a lawn sign in support of the Bates workers. https://forms.gle/tZ5gqc1ws3YxJu1AA
You can also sign up at the same link to volunteer to deliver lawn signs (driving) or canvass to distribute signs (walking), no matter where you live.
- Have your local union sign-on to a letter of support. You can read the local union support letter here. You can have your local sign on by emailing sarah at maineaflcio dot org.
- Do you go to church or participate in a faith community, or do you know a local faith leader? Mike Seavey, the faith liaison of the Maine AFL-CIO, is helping to organize a letter of support from Androscoggin County clergy and faith leaders. Please reply to this email and let us know, or contact Mike directly at mick0825 at gmail dot com
Contact Sarah at sarah at maineaflcio dot org with questions, ideas, or to get more involved.