BANGOR --Â A group of Maine community college employees picketed Wednesday morning to garner support for their current contract negotiations.Â
The workers picketed outside Eastern Maine Community College Rangeley Hall and then migrated inside to attend and picket a meeting of the education committee for the board of trustees.
Maine Service Employees Association Union steward Eric Clark says, "Our next steps in the procedure are to be as visible as possible, letting the students know that we are always here for them and support them no matter what. But we need the other side of the table to support us so that we can all make a better Maine overall."Â
In a statement released by the Maine Service Employees Association, the workers are said to be asking for new contracts that include merit-step increases, a significant cost-of-living increase, and retroactive pay.
MCCS president David Daigler released a statement saying, "We are still in negotiations, but we have offered a 4.5% increase in pay in each of the two years, in addition to increases in multiple other, non-compensation areas such as doubling the childcare reimbursement. We think this is a good offer... We are anxious to have the unit return to negotiations and look forward to coming to a mutually acceptable agreement. "