Contract for Maine's Working Class Process Moving Full Steam Ahead

We are moving right along with developing our Contract for Maine’s Working Class! The contract will be a platform developed by and for Maine workers that we can turn into a governing agenda. This agenda will be structured like a contract fight with an employer in that it will include key priorities that we haven’t won yet. We are currently holding listening sessions, surveying hundreds of workers and taking input from union members and other workers about what should be part of this agenda.

The Contract Committee recently convened and has created subcommittees to analyze results and begin looking deeper into the critical issues like health care, housing, utilities, job quality, and childcare. It will then be tasked with coming up with proposals. Survey respondents who expressed interest in fighting for tax fairness recently joined a training to learn how to advocate for policies that will ensure the wealthy pay their fair share.

Leaders of the Contract also presented the project to the more 40 attendees of the ME AFL’s Worker Candidate Training last month. The group then broke into five issue areas to discuss what working class solutions look like: utilities, childcare, jobs and wages, housing, and health care. We have upcoming meetings with machinists, nurses, social services workers and state workers and we're always looking to meet with more. Reach out if you want us to come meet with your members.

If you would like us to give a presentation to your union or would like to be involved in this project, email arthur@maineaflcio.org.