The four contracts deliver a 4.5 percent pay increase, and a lump sum payment of $2,000, among other benefits
Augusta, MAINE – Members of Maine Service Employees Association Local 1989 (MSEA-SEIU 1989) have voted to ratify four successor labor agreements with the State of Maine. The four contracts cover employees in the Administrative Services; Operations, Maintenance, and Support Services; Professional and Technical; and Supervisor Services bargaining units. The contracts are in effect through June 30, 2027.
Highlights of the labor agreements include:
- 4.5 percent pay increase starting September 1, 2026
- $2,000 lump sum distributed in early October 2026
- Grievance Procedure language related to the timely advancement of grievances at the level of arbitration
- Child Care reimbursement for up to $2,000 for those with a family AGI of up to $70,000
- Military Leave increased from 17 days to 20 days
- Bereavement Leave additions of Foster Child and Sibling-in-Law as qualifying relatives of the employee, and Foster Child, Sibling-in-Law, and Grandparent as qualifying relatives of the employee's spouse or significant other
- Longevity increases of $.05 to each tier
This contract ratification comes after more than 20 months of negotiations, including mediation and arbitration assistance beginning in the fall of 2025.
“We commend MSEA members’ ratification of these new contracts, which demonstrates the Mills Administration’s commitment to providing competitive wages and benefits for State of Maine employees,” said Elaine Clark, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services. “This latest labor agreement adds to the approximately 30 percent cumulative raise increases since Governor Mills has taken office while significantly improving benefits.”
Under the Mills Administration, with approval of the Legislature, wages for state employees have increased a minimum of 29 percent over the last seven years (over 34 percent for those who received the four percent step 9 increase), a greater total salary increase than during the previous 16 years combined. Total wage increases are nearly $1.15 billion in this period.
These wage increases for state employees have included:
- Three percent raise in September 2019
- Four percent raise in January 2021
- Two percent raise in December 2021
- $2,000 lump sum payment in December 2021
- Four percent raise in July 2022
- Six percent raise in October 2023 for AFSCME/MSLEA
- Six percent raise in January 2024 for MSEA, MSTA, and FOP plus $800 lump sum payment
- Three percent raise in July 2024
- Four percent increase between July 2024 – July 2025 for 50% of employees (step 8 employees moved to new step 9 effective on anniversary date)
- $2,000 lump sum payment in October 2024
- For four of five unions, two percent raise in January 2026; and another two percent in July of 2026
- For MSEA, 4.5 percent raise in September of 2026 and a $2,000 lump sum payment in October of 2026
Beyond these increases, state employees have also received further salary enhancements under the Mills Administration, including: establishing a $15 minimum wage; longevity pay for employees who have worked longer than five years for the state; a guaranteed promotion pay jump of seven percent (an increase from five percent); state payment for employee share of paid family medical leave; six weeks of fully paid parental leave; merit increases; and significant changes in other pay categories, such as stipends, shift differentials, and allowances.
The State continues its ongoing efforts on behalf of employees, having presented a Comprehensive Classification Review, Analysis and Recommendations report to Legislators in December of 2025. Based on the findings of that report, the Bureau of Human Resources presented a comprehensive reclassification plan to Legislators on September 1, 2026, that will overhaul the State of Maine classification system to improve equity, simplify and develop career paths, and poise the classification system to meet the needs and demands of a modern workforce.
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