Orono town workers with AFSCME Council 93 have won their union certification bid! In a decision handed down last week, the Maine Labor Relations Board ruled that the workers had “adequately demonstrated” majority support for unionizing and that the union should be certified. The bargaining unit covers Orono town office, parks and recreation, and library staff should be certified.
"There was never any doubt in our minds that Orono town employees would prevail in their bid to form a union and we are thrilled that the Maine Labor Relations Board has decided in their favor,” said John Nuttall, Business Agent for AFSCME Council 93. “We look forward to negotiating a fair contract that respects the hard work these dedicated public servants provide to the community.”
The workers filed for union recognition in February and under the state’s “card check” law, if a majority of municipal workers sign cards to form a union, the employer must recognize it. However, after the workers went public with their demand for union recognition, Town Manager Sophie Wilson fought the effort by seeking to exclude workers from the bargaining unit.
The move sparked outrage in the community and workers and allies protested the blatant act of union busting at a council meeting in March. The following week, Councilor Meghan Gardner, who staunchly supported the Town Manager’s actions, was unseated by pro-worker write-in candidate Sarah Marx and Dan Demeritt.
“I think we are making good progress in Orono since that challenging council meeting in March right before our municipal election,” said Demeritt. “As a new town councilor, I was pleased that we worked with the union and agreed on the makeup of the unit back in April…I'm also glad we do not need a union election.”
The decision by the MLRB found that a measure of majority support for unionization existed when the petition was filed on February 13, 2023. Those petitions counting toward a majority vote in favor of unionization had to be within the Agreement on Appropriate Bargaining Unit filed jointly by AFSCME Council 93 and the Town of Orono on April 28, 2023.
The Orono Town Council also adopted a resolution back in May expressing support for the UMaine Graduate Workers Union.