Phinney Re-Elected President; Provost Elected Vice President; Per Capita Increase Passes at Maine AFL-CIO Convention

Last week, the Maine AFL-CIO held its Biennial Convention in Auburn after it was postponed in October due to the mass shooting in Lewiston. In addition to electing a new executive board, delegates from our roughly 200 affiliates elected a President and Vice President.

Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney (IBEW 1837) was reelected President while Grant Provost (Ironworkers 7) was elected Vice President. Click here for the full list of Executive Board members.

Delegates also voted overwhelmingly to increase per capita dues, which have been at the same level of $1.25 per member per month since 2001. The measure increases per capita dues to $1.50 per member per month gradually over four years. The schedule is as follows:

• February 1, 2024: Increase per capita 20 cents to $1.45 per member per month;
• January 1, 2025 Increase 1 cent to $1.46 per member per month;
• January 1, 2026 Increase 2 cents to $1.48 per member per month;
• January 1, 2027 Increase 2 cents to $1.50 per member per month.

The per caps increase was developed by the Maine AFL-CIO’s Budget Strengthening Committee, which met several times to review our finances and develop proposals, including this per capita increase. The committee reached a unanimous compromise agreement in support of this proposal. The amendment was then reviewed by the Maine AFL-CIO Executive Board, which overwhelmingly voted to recommend its adoption. 

The per capita increase is part of an overall plan that includes ongoing work to bring the small number of under affiliated and unaffiliated unions into the Maine AFL-CIO. The increased resources from increased per capita will be used to sustain and strengthen our work supporting affiliate unions and make the organization more sustainable.