Maine Democrats form union amid growing push for labor rights at state, national levels

Permanent staff at the Maine Democratic Party will have union representation for the first time after negotiations recently finished and workers gave approval for an initial contract.

Party staff will be represented by IBEW Local 1837, according to a Tuesday news release.

“We’re all really excited. All of our staff are very much on board with it,” said April Thibodeau, party affairs director and a shop steward for the new 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 an opportunity for us to live our values as an organization in a very real and tangible way,” added Gaetan Davis, executive director of the Maine Dems. “Allowing working people to have a greater, more equal voice is core to our beliefs as Democrats.”

Matthew Beck, IBEW Local 1837 organizer/business representative, also celebrated the formation of the union and praised the party for accepting the organizing effort.

Read more: https://mainebeacon.com/maine-dems-form-union-amid-growing-push-for-labor-rights-at-state-national-levels/