Jobs and Income GOP amendment would undermine benefits of earned paid sick days Maine's workers and economy A proposal to expand access to earn paid sick days would be watered down significantly if Republican lawmakers get their way. The original plan, LD 369, presented […] James Myall Posted March 12, 2019 Tags Job Quality, Paid Sick Days
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy State of Working Maine 2018 Contents Editor’s note: State of Working Maine 2018 contains extensive endnotes and citations not reflected in this online version of the report. To see the complete report […] James Myall Posted November 19, 2018 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Education, Employment, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Jobs and Income MECEP Policy Brief: Minimum wage increase brought higher wages, reduced child poverty in 2017 Summary: Maine’s voter-approved minimum wage increase in 2017 led to the fastest wage increase in a decade for low-income Mainers and helped lift 10,000 Maine children out […] James Myall Posted September 24, 2018 Tags Children, Economic Security, Minimum Wage
Jobs and Income SNAP turns 40: Providing sustenance for working poor families Friday, September 29 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1977 Food Stamp Act, the landmark law that established the nation’s modern anti-hunger program—as it’s now known, the […] Jody Harris Posted September 29, 2017 Tags Food Insecurity, SNAP
Jobs and Income Out of work, out of hope – This is what a depressed economy looks like Tens of thousands of Mainers disheartened by the dim prospects of good paying, middle-class jobs have given up looking for work. Some are discouraged to the point […] James Myall Posted September 21, 2017 Tags Economic Security, Jobs
Jobs and Income Women have the right to vote, but still don't get equal pay for equal work At the current pace, Maine women won’t see equal pay for equal work until 2057. Despite significant advances in civil rights, women still face economic inequality. Sarah Austin Posted August 26, 2017 Tags Incomes, Inequality
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Pine Tree Development Zones fail to create quality jobs in areas of need As part of a multiyear review of business tax credits, the state’s government accountability office reported today that the Pine Tree Development Zone (PTDZ) program does not live up to its promise of creating good jobs in higher unemployment areas. Sarah Austin Posted August 23, 2017 Tags Economy, Jobs, Tax Breaks, Taxes
Jobs and Income Testimony in Opposition to LD 1609, “An Act To Support Maine's Employers and Encourage Employers To Hire Young Workers” Maine’s minimum wage increase will help to restore the value of work for tens of thousands of Mainers. It will increase wages for one-third of Maine’s workforce, […] Mark Sullivan Posted May 23, 2017 Tags Jobs
Jobs and Income Testimony in Opposition to LD 65 “An Act To Ensure the Right To Work without Payment of Dues or Fees to a Labor Union as a Condition of Employment” and LD66 “An Act To Prohibit Public Employers from Acting as Collection Agents for Labor Unions” A prosperous future for Maine and a robust economy requires more middle-wage jobs with good benefits and working conditions that are compatible with family life. Maine cannot […] Mark Sullivan Posted May 8, 2017 Tags Unions
Jobs and Income Testimony in Opposition to Three Bills to Alter the Minimum Wage Law Passed by Voters in November 2016 Seven states have already removed the special exemption from minimum wages known as the “tip credit” (Alaska, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington). Federal Earnings data show […] Mark Sullivan Posted April 5, 2017 Tags Minimum Wage