Jobs and Income MECEP statement on veto of bill to advance farmworker rights Maine Center for Economic Policy is disappointed at Governor Janet Mills’ decision to veto LD 398, “An Act to Make Agricultural Workers and Other Related Workers Employees […] Posted July 19, 2023 Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Overtime, Unions
Jobs and Income Budget committee funds bills to increase paltry legislator pay, implement drug policy reforms While LD 1155 was approved by AFA, a number of workers rights-related reforms failed to receive funding. One such measure was LD 1376, a bill to increase the state’s […] Beacon Posted July 13, 2023 Tags Health Care, Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income Maine nears making farmworkers eligible for minimum wage “Workers in Maine’s agriculture industry, disproportionately Black, Latino, and Indigenous Mainers, have been subject to exemptions from basic labor laws that make them much more likely to […] Beacon Posted July 10, 2023 Tags Immigration, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Racial Equity
Jobs and Income Wednesday Sit-Down: Expanding workers' rights in Maine Garrett Martin from the Maine Center for Economic Policy sat down with CBS13 to discuss expanding workers’ rights in Maine. Click here to watch the full video, […] Fox 23 Posted June 21, 2023 Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Unions, Wednesday Sit Down
Health Care, Jobs and Income Maine nurses split over whether state mandate of staff ratios would help “Part of that is that health care jobs were extremely stressful – and dangerous – over the past two years, which probably led people to find other […] Portland Press Herald Posted June 18, 2023 Tags Health Care, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income Maine could join growing list of states with a $15 minimum wage — unless Mills objects Some economists have argued that raising the state’s current minimum wage of $13.80 to $15 would create a meaningful increase to workers’ paychecks and help many working […] Beacon Posted June 14, 2023 Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage
Jobs and Income Family friendly policies are the solution to workforce challenges One of the most frequently asked questions we hear at the Maine Center for Economic Policy is how to expand the state’s workforce. One answer: Give workers the […] Bangor Daily News Posted June 11, 2023 Tags Child Care, Direct Care Work, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Family and Medical Leave
Jobs and Income 5 reasons Maine shouldn’t look to New Hampshire on Paid Family and Medical Leave Last week, Maine’s Labor and Housing Committee voted to advance a bill which would establish a near-universal Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program for Maine workers. […] James Myall Posted June 9, 2023 Tags Family and Medical Leave, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Family and Medical Leave, Wages
Jobs and Income Maine needs a “reporting pay” requirement Imagine you’re working at a fast-food restaurant. You’re used to getting called in on short notice to fill shifts, but you’re never sure if you’re actually going […] James Myall Posted May 31, 2023 Tags Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Brief: Providing workers the support they need to enter and stay in the labor force At a glance Maine has more jobs now than before the pandemic Labor force participation has mostly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels but is not adequate to keep […] MECEP Posted May 26, 2023 Tags Child Care, Child Tax Credit, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Economy, Employment, Family and Medical Leave, Inclusive Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Sick Days