Providing stability and security for Maine’s working men and women:
Governor Mills is committed to working with labor unions to make progress on behalf of workers across the State of Maine. Since she took office, Governor Mills has:
- Supported State Employees: Unlike other states, under Governor Mills’ leadership Maine did not lay off, furlough, or freeze the pay of one single state employee as a result of the pandemic. In fact, she successfully negotiated new contracts with state employees that established a $15 per hour minimum wage for state employees and included a six percent pay raise. These contracts also doubled paid family leave from 2 to four weeks; expanded eligibility under the childcare reimbursement program; and added Juneteenth as a paid state holiday. Governor Mills also fronted sick leave to all employees at the beginning of the calendar year, granted new administrative leave to state employees to use to care for their loved ones who were sick or quarantining because of COVID-19; and granted additional leave time to get vaccinated.
- Signed Legislation to Support Worker Rights: Governor Mills signed legislation requiring a prevailing wage be paid on school and municipal projects with public funding of $50,000 or more; legislation to protect state workers from threats to privatize their jobs; legislation requiring the use of apprenticeship programs on large scale new energy projects; legislation establishing collective bargaining rights for loggers and forest product haulers; and legislation to permit state and local governments to use project labor agreements, or PLAs, on publicly funded projects; and legislation to promote pay equality by discouraging employers from basing wages on an employee’s salary history.
- Made Historic Investments in Maine Workers: Through her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, Governor Mills has invested more than $300 million in workforce supports including education and training, housing and health care, child care and broadband.