Maine AFL-CIO -- Employee Free Choice Act Blog

Allies for the Employee Free Choice Act - Sarah Standiford, Executive Director of the Maine Women's Lobby

Under the leadership of Sarah Standiford, the Maine Women's Lobby has been a stalwart ally of working families in Maine. In this clip, Sarah discusses how passing the Employee Free Choice Act will help improve the economic standing of women in Maine.

In her words "Women make up the majority of low-income workers in Maine. so anything that we can do to bolster the ability of women to organize will result in increased incomes, increased benefits and increased standing for families throughout the state."

To support the campaign to pass the Employee Free Choice Act the Maine Women's Lobby helps coordinate the support of other women's groups in Maine. In addition Sarah authored an Op-ed entitled "Free Choice Act, a change women need." Which was published in the Bangor Daily News on December 6th 2008.

Dave Projansky Labor Leader, Activist and Supporter of the Employer Free Choice Act

 

Brother Dave is a worker, a union leader and a true activist. He is the President of Unit 12, AFSCME Local 1458, as well as the Treasurer of Local 1458. Outside of the Statehouse on Labor Lobby Day, Dave told us why he supports the Employee Free Choice Act.

 

He also told us about the struggle that his recently organized unit has had to achieve a first contract. It has been almost a year since his unit was certified and they still don’t have a contract. Dave however is confident. “We’re going to have a contract, but they have spent and inordinate amount of money trying to stoop us.”

 

Though Dave is a public employee, it’s clear that his story is analogous to the frequently more vicious private sector first contract campaigns. In support of the Employee Free Choice Act, Dave has called our Senators, helped organize events, and done everything in between and for that we thank him.

Local Union Leader Spotlight– Chris Teret, President of the Southern Maine CLC, IBEW 567 Apprentice

I caught up with the Chris Teret, an apprentice with IBEW 567 and the President of the Southern Maine Central Labor Council on his lunch break in Portland . Chris described the efforts that both Ithe IBEW Local 567 and the southern Maine CLC are making towards passing the Employee Free Choice Act.

 

Just recently Chris's local hosted an event in which workers on a forum shared their experiences of harassment and intimidation during organizing campaigns. He is helping to create a similar event hosted by the Southern Maine CLC. Even during his lunch break Chris took the time to call Senator Snow and share his opinion on the Employee Free Choice Act.

 

In Chris's words he supports the Employee Free Choice Act because "I've been singled out plenty of times for being an advocate  for my coworkers and if there is anything we can do to stop that...we need to do that."