Maine

Service workers at Maine’s 7 community colleges say system is stalling negotiations

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2024

Service workers at Maine’s 7 community colleges say system is stalling negotiations

Christopher Winstead, deputy executive director of workforce development left, listens as Jay Bickford, a facilities maintenance specialist from Bowdoin, reads a petition from Maine Community College System support services employees on Thursday at the Maine Community College System offices in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA — Maintenance, custodial, accounting, IT and other service workers at Maine’s community colleges say administrators are stalling negotiations for a new contract.

Ten support service workers marched down State Street and into the Maine Community College System headquarters in Augusta on Thursday to demand wage increases for the 165 employees working under a contract that expired in July 2023. One hundred union members signed a petition that says the low wages have negatively impacted employees, the workplace culture and the college system at large.

“The years of frozen merit-pay increases have resulted in the degradation of the quality of work we can perform,” union members at MCCS said in the petition. “The quality of education for students suffers when workers are not paid a living wage that recognizes and rewards longevity and dedication to the Maine Community College System.”

Members had intended to meet with MCCS President Dave Daigler and read the letter. Christopher Winstead, with MCCS’ workforce training division, instead met the 10 employees at the door and said that Daigler was not in the office today.

But Jay Bickford, a facilities maintenance specialist at Southern Maine Community College in Brunswick, still read the letter to Winstead, who served as Daigler’s representative and said he would deliver the message.

“President Daigler has expressed frequently that he values the work that we do in our colleges to help prepare Maine’s workforce, and we are demanding that he demonstrate that through actions, and not just words,” Bickford read from the letter.

THE FACTS AND FIGURES

Jay Bickford, a facilities maintenance specialist from Bowdoin, leads a group of Maine Community College System support services employees and Maine State Employees Association officials during a march on Thursday in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Some of MCCS’ support services employees represented by MSEA-SEUI Local 1989 make as little as an estimated $15 an hour, according to field representative Katrina Ray-Saulis.

In order to bring those wages up, the union wants to take a two-step approach through an across-the-board increase and merit-pay increases.

Local 1989 is proposing 3% cost-of-living increases for all represented employees for each year. And any person employed at MCCS beyond the one-year probationary period would earn an additional 3% merit increase each year for the two-year life of the contract.

That would mean an employee like Bickford, who earns $21 an hour, would see his wage bumped to $23.60 by the end of the contract.

MCCS administrators have counter-offered two 4.5% wage increases – the same increases negotiated in the expired contract.

“The proposed wage increase is the same offer made to other units in the bargaining process,” Daigler said in a statement. “(That’s) in addition to increases in multiple other non-compensation areas such as doubling the child care reimbursement.”

But for Charles Riggs, a facilities maintenance specialist at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, MCCS’ counter offer isn’t enough. Riggs currently makes $16.94 an hour performing custodial duties and building maintenance.

Riggs lives in Bangor with his fiancee, 2-year-old daughter and four-month old daughter. And he would need to earn $40.18 to make a living wage, according to the Massachusetts Institute for Technology’s Living Wage Calculator. In the nearly two years he’s worked at EMCC, the low wages have had a profound impact on his life.

“I can’t take care of my family like this,” Riggs said with a wavering voice.

As a result, Riggs and his family use public aid to try to get by. Riggs collects food stamps; his wife and children are on MaineCare.

“It’s incredibly stressful that I have to rely on state aid to take care of my family,” Riggs said. “And it’s infuriating.”

WAITING IT OUT

Bickford acknowledges taking another job would be a logical next step. Other private schools offer higher wages for similar support-services positions, Bickford said.

And that, the union said, has led to issues with retention rates and understaffing.

“This has been very demoralizing on staff and me,” Bickford said.

But for what he sees as the system’s faults, Bickford loves MCCS, especially the college system’s mission to offer affordable education. In April 2022, Gov. Janet Mills launched an initiative to eliminate community college tuition and fees for Maine students graduating between 2020 and 2025.

“The Maine Community College System funds the future. I like what I do. I believe in what the college does – I believe in the benefit of free education, students deserve it.” said Bickford, who also graduated from SMCC.

In addition to close proximity, Riggs has a nostalgic connection to MCCS. He met his fiancee and closest friends while he was a student at EMCC.

“I have a sentimental attachment,” Riggs said.

Support-services employees say administrators have told the union MCCS does not have money in the budget to meet union demands. MCCS had 19,447 enrolled in the fall 2021 semester across its seven colleges – in Wells, Calais, South Portland, Presque Isle, Fairfield, Bangor and Auburn; and its three satellite campuses – Sanford, Brunswick and Hinkley.

Employees are hopeful, however, that Gov. Janet Mills will direct a portion of the $968 million in the state’s Budget Stabilization, or “Rainy Day” fund to state employees that aren’t making a living wage.

“We look forward to coming to a mutually acceptable agreement,” Daigler said.

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Maine

Maine Jewish community mourning, on edge after attack in Australia

Published

3 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Maine Jewish community mourning, on edge after attack in Australia

PORTLAND (WGME) — The Maine Jewish community says the attack in Australia has left them mourning and on edge.

It comes amid an increase in antisemitic rhetoric, online and in our communities.

Members of Maine’s Jewish community say they have no choice but to take these increased threats seriously, especially in wake of the tragedy in Australia.

They are now increasing security, like during the menorah lighting for the first night of Hanukkah outside Portland City Hall Sunday.

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine says they’ve been coordinating with local law enforcement across the state since Sunday about heightened threat levels.

They say the attack in Australia is just the culmination of an increase in antisemitic actions that have been seen across the world in recent years, which Maine has not been isolated from.

“There were about, almost 16 antisemitic incidents, documented antisemitic incidents in 2024,” Jewish Community Relations Council Director Zach Schwartz said. “That represents the same increase that Sydney saw, which is a three-fold increase, so yeah, we could say by the numbers, that there is multiple orders of increased antisemitism in the state.”

The alliance says the story of Hanukkah is also more relevant than ever amid these attacks.

They say amid dark days, the Jewish community still finds ways to come together in hopes of lighting the way for a brighter future.

Governor Janet Mills issued a statement on both the shooting in Australia and at Brown University.

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“My prayers are with the victims of the tragedies in Providence and Australia, and I hope for the full recovery of all those injured. Innocent people, like those gathering for school or to celebrate their faith, should be free from fear of hateful acts such as these.”

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Maine

Eight Maine Subway locations reopen

Published

15 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

An image from Michael T. Fay’s Facebook page shows him in front of the location on Allen Avenue in Portland, one of the franchises ordered closed. (Facebook screenshot)

Eight Subway locations closed last week by state regulators have reopened.

MTF Subway franchise owner Michael T. Fay has confirmed that all of his franchise locations in Maine are open for business, following the closure of eight of them last Wednesday.

Maine Revenue Services ordered what it characterized as “several” Subway locations closed for “for noncompliance with Part 3, 36 M.R.S.A.,” which primarily governs Maine’s sales and use tax.

The agency did not elaborate and would only reiterate Monday that, “Due to confidentiality requirements, MRS cannot comment on individual tax situations.”

In an email to the Sun Journal on Monday, Fay confirmed that eight of his locations were affected by the ordered closures, after the state revoked the registration certificates for each location.

Fay stated that none of his employees were laid off by the company.

MTF Subway locations affected:

Blue Hill

Brunswick

Hampden

Lisbon Falls

Portland

Topsham

Westbrook

Wiscasset

A long-time journalist, Christopher got his start with Armed Forces Radio & Television after college. Seventeen years at CNN International brought exposure to major national and international stories…
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Maine

Maine’s first temple announced during stake Christmas fireside

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Maine’s first temple announced during stake Christmas fireside

As members of the Portland Maine Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered for a stake Christmas fireside Sunday evening, Dec. 14, they received an unexpected and joyful announcement from the First Presidency.

A house of the Lord will be constructed in Portland, Maine — the state’s first temple.

“We’re pleased to announce the construction of a temple in Portland, Maine. The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later,” said the First Presidency statement read by Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area.

“This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and thank God for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord,” the statement concluded.

Speaking to attendees in the Portland stake center in North Yarmouth, Elder Haynie said: “In a recent meeting of the First Presidency of the Church, a decision was made that, when directed by the First Presidency, the announcement of the construction of a new temple should be made on location by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, or a member of an area presidency.

“Such an announcement by a member of the area presidency has never occurred before,” Elder Haynie said. “Tonight will be the first time.”

On behalf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area, announces a new temple will be built in Portland, Maine, during a stake Christmas fireside in the Portland stake center in North Yarmouth, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. | Screenshot

The Portland Maine Temple is the first house of the Lord announced by the First Presidency since President Dallin H. Oaks was set apart as the 18th President of the Church on Oct. 14, following the death of President Russell M. Nelson. No temples were announced during October 2025 general conference.

Maine is home to more than 11,000 Latter-day Saints who comprise 27 congregations. The Portland Maine Stake was created earlier this year and is one of three stakes in the state, along with the Augusta and Bangor stakes. Church members in these stakes are currently part of the Boston Massachusetts Temple district.

The stake fireside, titled “Come Let Us Adore Him,” featured a variety of musical selections and messages about the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. Individuals and families of all ages attended the event. Elder Haynie was accompanied by his wife, Sister Deborah Haynie.

A choir performs during the Portland Maine Stake Christmas fireside on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in North Yarmouth, Maine. | Screenshot

Temple announcement

A new temple in Maine brings the total number of the Church’s temples — operating, under construction, or announced worldwide — to 383.

This temple announcement is a deviation from a pattern established in recent years in which leaders announce temples mostly during the Church’s semiannual general conferences.

Of the 200 temples President Nelson announced during his seven years as President of the Church, only one was announced outside of a general conference session — the Ephraim Utah Temple. President Nelson announced the Ephraim temple on May 1, 2021, in a prerecorded video shown at a press conference inside the Manti Tabernacle. In this message, President Nelson also explained modified plans for the Manti Utah Temple’s renovation.

President Thomas S. Monson, who served as the 16th President of the Church from February 2008 to January 2018, announced 45 temples during his administration — 40 of which were done in a general conference session. Prior to President Monson’s tenure, however, a majority of temples were announced outside of general conference.

More about the Church in Maine

Latter-day Saint missionaries first arrived in Maine in 1832 by canoe, crossing the Piscataqua River which forms the boundary of Maine and New Hampshire. A branch was established in Saco later that year.

In August 1837, missionaries Wilford Woodruff and Jonathan Hale arrived in the Fox Islands, today known as Vinalhaven and North Haven. By that winter, the Church established branches on both islands, with about 100 members total. Church activity slowed in Maine after 1844, when most Church members moved west to escape persecution.

Missionary efforts and Church activities resumed in 1904, and local members hosted worship services and activities in their homes. In 1957, meetinghouses were dedicated in Portland and Bangor. The state’s first stake, the Maine Stake, was organized on June 23, 1968.