Baileyville Workers, Federal Workers & Others Highlight Importance of Solidarity Harvest This Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, it is important to think about the union families who are struggling this season and offer our solidarity where we can. Recently, Woodland Pulp and St. Croix Chipping in Baileyville have announced that they will be shutting down for a month from mid November to mid December due to the soft market for pulp. The move will result in the layoffs of 125 United Steelworkers Local 27 members at Woodland Pulp and 32 members at St. Croix Chipping. Other impacted trades workers include members of IBEW 1057, IAM 1490, Millwrights 1121 and OPEIU. The company will keep both of its tissue machines running, so the 65 USW 9546 members at St. Croix Tissue will continue working. Work has also been slow for many trades workers due to economic uncertainty in the construction sector, tariffs and the elimination of federal energy tax credits.

Meanwhile, Social Security workers, federal firefighters, shipyard workers, air traffic controllers, airport screeners and employees at the Naval installation in Cutler and many other federal workers in Maine continue to struggle without pay as the federal government shutdown grinds into its second month.

Bill Reiley, Maine Regional Vice President for AFGE Local 2617, who works for TSA at Porltand Jetport, predicts there will be a lot of airport workers who may leave employment soon because they can’t afford to make rent and pay the bills.

“If your boss didn't pay you for a month, what would you do? Would you still work for him?” said Reiley.

At the same time, he said Mainers are better off than federal workers in other states because of a new law the Maine AFL-CIO helped pass that allows them to qualify for state-backed no-interest loans to get through government shutdowns. He said several of his members have been able to receive those loans to help them pay for food, utilities and housing. Reiley said the biggest need right now for his members are gas cards to pay to get to and from work. In the last shutdown he had to loan members money out of his own pocket to get to work.

Support Solidarity Harvest to Help Workers in Need This Thanksgiving

This year it is more critical than ever that we support Food AND Medicine’s Solidarity Harvest to help union families and others who have fallen on hard times.  Each Thanksgiving box from Solidarity Harvest contains a gift card and nearly 30 pounds of produce from local farms — enough food for 8-10 people. FAM’s slogan is “Solidarity, Not Charity,” so we urge you to take advantage of this program designed to build solidarity among our fellow union brothers and sisters as well as other Mainers in need.

Unfortunately, there is more need than there are food boxes, so we urge to sponsor a meal for Mainers in need.

If you would like to volunteer for Solidarity Harvest, the group will need help assembling boxes November 13th - November 24th. There are two shifts each day: morning shift 9am - 12:30pm and afternoon shift 1:30pm - 4:30pm. Feel free to bring a friend, bring a class, bring a group, or just yourself (just indicate so on the sign up form). Lunch will be provided between shifts so we hope you’ll stay after or come early!

Click to Sign up for a Volunteer Shift

Other ways to stand in Solidarity!

• Can't help assemble boxes? Sponsor one or more meal boxes! Mail a check to Food AND Medicine (at 20 Ivers St, Brewer) or use the Teal Button to donate by card.
• Can’t make it for a whole shift? Would you like to cook a dish that we could serve to our volunteers during a sorting day? Click on the Orange Button above and fill out the form or email Johnny@foodandmedicine.org
• Help cook and preserve extra winter squash! If interested, email Johnny@foodandmedicine.org.