June 10, 2022
SMWC Worker Support Hotline Pause June 10-September 5, 2022
The Southern Maine Workers’ Center is pausing our Worker Support Hotline from June 10-September 5 to focus on updating our WORK Manual, launching this year’s series of workers’ rights trainings, and reflecting on our hotline data to help us be more intentional about how our hotline can best support Maine workers. In the meantime, please check out…
Read MoreFebruary 4, 2021
The Light You Gave Me
The Southern Maine Workers’ Center is so excited to announce that Ronny Flannery is re-joining our staff as the Joint Committee Organizer starting this week. Ronny worked with us as the Health Care is a Human Right organizer in 2016/17, before moving to California. Ronny brought a lot of skills and gifts as an organizer…
Read MoreJanuary 27, 2021
Big changes at the Workers’ Center
Dear Workers’ Center community, We are excited to announce some bittersweet news and major transitions at the Southern Maine Workers’ Center. After five years serving as our Executive Director, Drew Joy is stepping down to take on another role in the organization. Our former Board Chair Meaghan LaSala will serve as the Interim Executive Director…
Read MoreOctober 2, 2020
Workers Support Hotline Shut Down October 2nd thru November 9th 2020
The Southern Maine Workers’ Center is suspending the worker support hotline service beginning Friday, Oct 2nd until Monday, November 9th. We are using this time to do a much needed overhaul of our volunteer program, intake process and legal referral system. Since the pandemic began in late March the hotline has experienced a surge in…
Read MoreOctober 1, 2020
Voting Resources 2020
Find the answer to questions the people you talk to have in the links below, or let people know the websites if they want to search for it themselves. General from League of Women Voters: www.lwvme.org/VoteInMaine Includes the following subjects (all linked from the website above): Voter Eligibility • Student Voting • Register to Vote…
Read MoreMarch 16, 2020
Virtual Workers’ Rights Legal Clinic
The Southern Maine Workers’ Center partners with the Volunteer Lawyers Project to host a virtual Workers’ Rights Legal Clinic (WRLC) weekly on Thursday from 5-7pm over Zoom or phone. At the clinic, you can talk to a volunteer lawyer for a free half hour consultation. You can get advice on topics such as your legal rights at…
Read MoreMay 5, 2017
Test for Tip in Cash Page
Join the movement. Sign the pledge to tip in cash today! Wage Theft is the illegal underpayment or non-payment of workers’ wages. Workers lose billions of dollars when their employers pay less than minimum wage; refuse overtime pay; force workers to work off the clock; hold back final paychecks; misclassify employees as independent contractors… or…
Read MoreNovember 26, 2012
Walmart Flash Mob
Check out the fantastic video of our Black Friday day of actions at Walmart! This video captures the whole event, flash mob and demonstration. *** This video captures interviews with some of the amazing community members who joined us. Thank you Asher Platts for your work to document the event. Thanks to the local union…
Read MoreNovember 24, 2012
More video from our Walmart action
Interviews from participants in our Black Friday action at Walmart. Individuals from the Workers’ Center, Occupy Maine, AFGE, SEIU, UAW, Postal Workers, ACSUM, AFT, Interfaith Worker Justice, Maine Greens and more held an informational demonstration and flash mob to raise awareness. Portland City Councilor David Marshall even joined the flash mob! Walmart workers are striking…
Read MoreNovember 23, 2012
Black Friday Flash Mob Video
Today everyday Walmart workers are standing up to live better. SMWC is standing in solidarity with them. Video is here! Just a month after strikes swept through Walmart stores in 12 states, Walmart retail and warehouse workers in more states are taking action and beginning what is becoming known as the first set of “viral…
Read MoreAugust 30, 2012
A Safe Space to Organize
Have you stopped by our new office?  The Workers’ Center is now located at the Meg Perry Center for Peace, Justice and Community.  Located in Portland’s Art District, 644 Congress Street, the Meg Perry Center (MPC) was founded 5 years ago to honor the memory of local activist, Meg Perry.  Read more about Meg Perry’s…
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