AUGUSTA - The Maine House passed a bill Monday from Rep. Ben Collings, D-Portland, that sets a statewide minimum wage for school support staff. The final House action came after initial 73-71 and 20-14 votes in the House and Senate, respectively.
LD 734 establishes a minimum hourly wage of $16 per hour for school support staff for school years beginning after June 30, 2022. School support staff include all school system personnel who are neither teachers nor administrators. The bill also requires the state to provide funds on a one-time basis to school administrative units for the school year beginning after June 30, 2022 to make up the difference between what school support staff are currently paid and the $16 minimum hourly wage.
"School support staff play a critical role in ensuring that all students are supported and put in the best position to learn and grow, and they have truly gone the extra mile throughout the course of the pandemic," said Collings. "This bill will help workers, but it will also help school systems with employee retention. I am grateful to my colleagues for understanding why we need to guarantee a living wage in our public schools."
Collings' measure drew supportive testimony from the Maine Education Association, the Maine Principals Association, the Maine People's Alliance and others.
"These are the people we depend on to get students to school, ensure they are fed, provide a clean and safe physical environment, serve students that need additional attention and make the business of the school operate efficiently," said Nate Williams, director of collective bargaining and research for the Maine Education Association, during the bill's public hearing. "They all deserve respect. Ensuring that these valuable employees can earn a living wage should be everyone's goal."
The bill faces further consideration in the Senate.
Collings is serving his third term in the Maine House and represents District 42, part of Portland.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Collings], c .812-1111