MAINE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STAFFERS UNIONIZE
We would like to welcome the latest members of Maine’s labor movement! The permanent staff of the Maine Democratic Party have formed a union with IBEW 1837. Party Affairs Director April Thibodeau said at the Biennial Convention this week that the party voluntarily recognized the union, honoring workers desire to form a union. The workers are currently bargaining for their first contract.
"We’re all really excited. All of our staff are very much on board with it,” said Thibodeau. “As political staff, we tend to be true believers and we really give it our all. Typically in politics we operate on a tight budget, so we tend not to unionize when we need a union and really should organize. By forming a union, we hope that we can set better work-life boundaries, create more permanency in our staff so there’s less turn over, and strengthen the relationship between the Maine Democratic Party and the labor movement in Maine. This is a very important step to living our values as a party.”