Field Rep. Robin Upton-Sukeforth Retires from MSEA-SEIU 1989

Congratulations to Maine Service Employees Association Field Representative Robyn Upton-Sukeforth on her recent retirement from MSEA-SEIU 1989. Robin worked as an MSEA district field rep for over seven years. Before that, she worked for over 25 years as a disability claims adjudicator for the state of Maine.

Over the years, Robin served in many capacities advocating for her coworkers and state retirees, including as a union steward; union chief steward; member of the Maine DHHS Labor-Management Committee; chapter delegate and alternate; chapter secretary; member of our finance committee; member of our Board of Directors and Executive Committee; and member of MSEA's political action committee, Political Action by Service Employees and Retirees (PASER).

In 2018, Robin retired from state service, became a retiree member, and joined MSEA staff as a district field rep, where she advocated for quality public services and represented state workers with a focus on the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

MSEA Executive Director Alec Maybarduk said Upton-Sukeforth worked with DHHS workers to design a foundational document outlining a vision for the department to deal with the staffing crisis in the wake of the tragic deaths of children in Maine who slipped through the cracks of the child protective system. She also got DHHS workers to speak up despite the harassment and intimidation they were facing from management, the governor, the press, and some legislators.

"Robin took on the now well-documented understaffing of the department, pushing two governors and three legislatures to increase staffing, pay, to improve computer systems, establish a crisis unit, to push for real healthy supportive and sustainable housing solutions for children separated from their families, and to hold toxic and incompetent management accountable. She developed a core team of caseworkers and case aids that meets weekly – WEEKLY – to discuss the issues they are facing," said Maybarduk.

He noted that Upton-Sukeforth worked with Lewiston leaders to expose abuses of power in the city, eventually leading to the departure of the City Administrator.

"Robin is rightfully known as the very definition of a working class hero – and it is a distinction that is well deserved," said Maybarduk. "Less appreciated is that Robin never forgets the people of the services her members provide – the children who are relying on them for safety, the Mainers who need to get through to a live person to help with their MaineCare benefits, the restaurants who want to make sure there isn’t a cockroach in their lasagna."

Upton-Sukeforth said one of her proudest achievements was her organizing work in the wake of the Supreme Court’s infamous Janus decision that eliminated fair share fees for public sector workers. It allowed her to “look at the whole picture,” and not just focus on grievances and addressing worksite issues.

Her advice to union members is, “Don’t be afraid to step up. Don't be afraid to approach somebody and ask them, ‘Have you heard about the union? The wrong question is, ‘What can the union do for you?’ It should be, ‘What can you do with the union to help yourself better?’ My involvement with my union really, really helped in my self-confidence.