Permanent staff at the Maine Democratic Party (MDP) will be represented for the first time by IBEW Local 1837. Contract negotiations recently concluded and party staff approved their first contract.
"We’re all really excited. All of our staff are very much on board with it.” said April Thibodeau, MDP Party Affairs Director who will serve as a shop steward for the newly-established union. “By forming a union, we hope that we can set better work-life boundaries, create more permanency in our staff, 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.”
Members say the contract will create a better working environment and work/life balance for staff while providing opportunities for them to stay in their roles. Under the new contract, the rate at which members now accrue vacation time will increase more quickly the longer they work there.
“We want to congratulate the staff of the Maine Democratic Party for deciding to join together and form a union to collectively bargain. We’re pleased that they’ve chosen the IBEW to represent them,” said Matthew Beck, IBEW 1837 Organizer/Business Representative. “To their credit, the Maine Dems voluntarily recognized their staff’s union, demonstrating once again the party’s support for organized labor.”