Maine AFL-CIO
Encyclopedia
The Maine AFL-CIO is a federation of AFL-CIO
-affiliated labor unions
in the state of Maine
.
The federation lobbies the state legislature and executive branch on issues important to its members, assists its state and local affiliate unions in organizing new members, conducts training and educational programs, and conducts research into labor-related issues such as workplace health and safety, health care, wages and benefits and more.
The Maine AFL-CIO also sponsors the Maine Women's Labor Institute, which trains working women in how to become more effective union leaders and political activists.
The organization is governed by three executive officers (a president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer), and a 26-member board of directors. Four directors represent central labor councils, one represents the Retiree division, and one represents the Maine Women's Labor Institute. Delegates to the biennial convention elect the officers and directors, whose terms of office are for two years.
After Dorsky's death in 1979, Charles O'Leary, then director of the Bureau of Labor Education at the University of Maine
at Orono, defeated Maine AFL-CIO vice-president Marvin Ewing, 75 percent to 25 percent, in the election for a new president.
In January 1999, O'Leary retired. Gwendolyn Gatcomb, the federation's vice-president since 1974, was elected his successor. Gatcomb became the first woman to lead the Maine AFL-CIO.
Gatcomb declined to seek election in the regularly scheduled election in August 1999. Edward Gorham, Maine AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer since 1977, was elected president. Gorham's term expires in 2007. The current President is Don Berry.
(R-Maine), and provided a critical early endorsement to Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) in his 2002 race for election to Congress.
On June 22, 2010 it endorsed Libby Mitchell for governor of Maine.
The Maine AFL-CIO is dominated by unions in blue-collar industries and state government. Since 1994, the state's largest employers—shipbuilders and paper mills—have shed nearly 4,500 workers, and job losses continue due to defense budget cuts. Due to these trends, membership in the federation dropped from 84,000 members in 1999 to 63,700 in 2005 (of which only about 50,000 were dues-paying union members).
In 2006, the Maine AFL-CIO lost another 14,000 members when unions with the Change to Win Federation
disaffiliated in the wake of the formation of the rival organization. Nearly 10,000 of these members belonged to the Maine State Employees Association, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union
, which represents employees in Maine's state government.
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
-affiliated labor unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
The federation lobbies the state legislature and executive branch on issues important to its members, assists its state and local affiliate unions in organizing new members, conducts training and educational programs, and conducts research into labor-related issues such as workplace health and safety, health care, wages and benefits and more.
The Maine AFL-CIO also sponsors the Maine Women's Labor Institute, which trains working women in how to become more effective union leaders and political activists.
Governance
Membership in the Maine AFL-CIO is open to all member unions of the AFL-CIO. The membership meets in a general convention in odd-numbered years.The organization is governed by three executive officers (a president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer), and a 26-member board of directors. Four directors represent central labor councils, one represents the Retiree division, and one represents the Maine Women's Labor Institute. Delegates to the biennial convention elect the officers and directors, whose terms of office are for two years.
Leadership
The Maine AFL-CIO has had enormously stable leadership in the 20th century. From 1937 to 1979, the federation was led by president Benjamin Dorsky.After Dorsky's death in 1979, Charles O'Leary, then director of the Bureau of Labor Education at the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
at Orono, defeated Maine AFL-CIO vice-president Marvin Ewing, 75 percent to 25 percent, in the election for a new president.
In January 1999, O'Leary retired. Gwendolyn Gatcomb, the federation's vice-president since 1974, was elected his successor. Gatcomb became the first woman to lead the Maine AFL-CIO.
Gatcomb declined to seek election in the regularly scheduled election in August 1999. Edward Gorham, Maine AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer since 1977, was elected president. Gorham's term expires in 2007. The current President is Don Berry.
Politics
The Maine AFL-CIO is heavily involved in state and federal politics. It is recognized as a potent lobby in the state legislature. It is also influential in federal politics. The federation has a very close working relationship with Sen. Olympia SnoweOlympia Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
(R-Maine), and provided a critical early endorsement to Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) in his 2002 race for election to Congress.
On June 22, 2010 it endorsed Libby Mitchell for governor of Maine.
Membership losses
The Maine AFL-CIO has seen its membership decline significantly in recent years.The Maine AFL-CIO is dominated by unions in blue-collar industries and state government. Since 1994, the state's largest employers—shipbuilders and paper mills—have shed nearly 4,500 workers, and job losses continue due to defense budget cuts. Due to these trends, membership in the federation dropped from 84,000 members in 1999 to 63,700 in 2005 (of which only about 50,000 were dues-paying union members).
In 2006, the Maine AFL-CIO lost another 14,000 members when unions with the Change to Win Federation
Change to Win Federation
The Change to Win Federation is a coalition of American labor unions originally formed in 2005 as an alternative to the AFL-CIO. The coalition is associated with strong advocacy of the organizing model...
disaffiliated in the wake of the formation of the rival organization. Nearly 10,000 of these members belonged to the Maine State Employees Association, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
, which represents employees in Maine's state government.