News

An informational picket, a contract fight & an election victory

Andy O’Brien
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IN THIS EDITION:

  • IBEW 1837 Member Kevin O’Connell Wins Brewer House Seat!
  • Workers Join KVCAP Drivers in Demonstration for Fair Contract
  • Ellsworth Techs (MSNA) at Northern Light Hospital Authorize Strike
  • Union Members Support Bill to Strengthen Tax on Multimillionaires
  • Join Us for a pre-Labor Lobby Day Issue Briefing 

UNION MEMBER KEVIN O’CONNELL WINS BREWER HOUSE SEAT!

Congratulations to IBEW 1837 member Kevin O’Connell who overwhelmingly won election to a Brewer State House Seat this past Tuesday. Kevin defeated former Republican Rep. Garrel Craig, 1,403 to 1,017, according to the Bangor Daily News. Kevin is a first class lineworker at Emera Maine, a 24-year military veteran and former Brewer mayor. He has pledged to support workers' rights, fair wages and fully restoring revenue sharing to our cash-strapped towns and cities. We look forward to having another working class voice in Augusta!

WORKERS JOIN KVCAP DRIVERS IN DEMONSTRATION FOR FAIR CONTRACT

Members of IAM Locals S6 and S7, MSEA-SEIU 1989, IBEW 2327, NALC, numerous other unions as well as State Legislators joined KVCAP drivers in solidarity at a informational picket Thursday to call on the agency to settle a fair contract. 

The KVCAP drivers organized a union a year ago with the IAM Local S89. One year later, they still don’t have a first contract as KVCAP is refusing to agree to the small increase in wages that the drivers are asking for.  There was very strong public support for the drivers and lots of positive press coverage. 

TECHNICIANS AT NORTHERN LIGHT MAINE COAST HOSPITAL AUTHORIZE STRIKE

Technicians at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital (NLMC), members of the Maine State Nurses Association, have authorized their union bargaining team to call a strike when necessary, according to the Maine State Nurses Association. The technicians, including Cardio Pulmonary, Radiology, Laboratory and Operating Room employees, have been working to reach a first contract agreement with their employer for over two years. The outstanding issues revolve around patient care, secure benefits and fair compensation.  

Respiratory therapist and MSNA bargaining team member Dave Evans said, “We are not looking for anything more than what the other unionized Maine Coast employees already have in their contract here at this hospital. We’re not asking for the moon, just a stronger voice for our patients and a little security for ourselves.”

No date has yet been set for the possible strike. Any potential date will be set by the union bargaining team in consultation with the rank-and-file membership.

UNION MEMBERS SUPPORT BILL TO STRENGTHEN TAX ON MULTIMILLIONAIRES

Union members joined lawmakers and others on Thursday to support a proposal that would reverse a massive tax break for the heirs of the state’s wealthiest households. LD 420 would simply reinstate a tax on estates worth over $2 million when they are passed on to heirs. This translates to just 10 cents on every dollar over $2 million. 

“At a time of soaring wealth inequality and as local governments struggle to fund basic services, we believe that restoring this modest tax on the one percent is a no-brainer,” said Carol Sanborn (pictured above), President of IAM Local S89 at the press conference. 

JOIN US FOR A PRE-LABOR LOBBY DAY ISSUE BRIEFING — MARCH 10

Reminder that our Labor Lobby Day is coming up this Thursday March 12!  Want to learn more about the bills that we will be talking to legislators about on March 12th in Augusta? Join us for a Zoom conference & conference call on Tuesday, March 10, at either 3pm or 7pm. We’ll give you the background on a range of bills we will be lobbying on including public sector right to strike, responsible contracting and other pro-labor legislation. If you are interested in joining either of the conference calls, please email Sarah for more details: sarah@maineaflcio.org. And reminder that our Labor Lobby Day is this THURSDAY MARCH 12.

If you haven’t already signed up for Thursday's Labor Lobby Day it’s not too late to register!