State Employees File Complaint Over State's Refusal to Bargain in Good Faith

Last Friday, the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA-SEIU 1989) filed a complaint with the Maine Labor Relations Board over the State of Maine's refusal to bargain in good faith. The state’s chief bargainer Breena Bissell is insisting that she will not meet with the union unless she can restrict the size of the union’s negotiating team and exclude observers. She even went so far as stating “I will pick your team for you.” 

“This behavior is unlawful and unacceptable,” said MSEA President Dean Staffieri in a letter to members. “Bargaining is about both sides sitting down as equals to meet, discuss proposals and reach agreement that both can agree to. We’re appalled by the behavior of the State’s chief negotiator and today filed charges of labor law violations for their failure to bargain in good faith.”

MSEA members have been locked in a struggle with the State of Maine over demands to increase stagnant wages. A state-sponsored study in 2020 found that the state’s base pay is consistently lower than at similar public- and private-sector employers. State employees are calling for the state to update the study to reflect the recent spike in the cost of living.

“We aren’t waiting,” Staffieri added. “Over the next month, together with coworkers across the state we will be taking our core demands to the Maine Legislature and raising them in our departments!”

Staffieri said MSEA members will joining the Maine AFL-CIO on March 30th for our annual Labor Lobby Day to have direct conversations with state lawmakers about their concerns.