December 10, 2015
From Portland to Paris: It Takes Roots to Weather the Storm
From Portland to Paris: It Takes Roots to Weather the Storm A report from SMWC’s Meaghan LaSala from the COP 21 in Paris, France At the Southern Maine Workers’ Center, we use a framework of human rights to help us envision the world we are building toward. We are organizing a broad based movement for…
Read MoreSeptember 28, 2015
A SMWC Love Letter to Lew
DEAR PEOPLE OF LEWISTON, What a week y’all just had! The Good Food Bus got rolling, bringing much needed fresh, local, and affordable foods to people of Lewiston, Auburn, and Bath. The Tree Street Youth Center began its first week of enrichment classes. The 21st Century Lewiston High School leadership program is now 50 students…
Read MoreJuly 31, 2015
Why we need a universal wage: Heather shares her story about tipped work
On July 20th, members of SMWC’s Work With Dignity Committee attended the Portland City Council’s workshop session on tipped credit and the new minimum wage ordinance. The ordinance needs to meaningfully include tipped workers by raising their base wage (the amount the employer actually pays hourly), as well as the minimum wage they have to earn up to once…
Read MoreJuly 14, 2015
Universality: Tipped Workers and the New Minimum Wage
Portland’s Municipal Minimum Wage is Strengthened by the Inclusion of Tipped Workers As many people have heard, Portland City Council is backing away from the minimum wage ordinance they passed on Monday, because it calls for a raise in the base wages of tipped workers. Our Work With Dignity Committee, which has advocated for increased…
Read MoreJuly 14, 2015
We Won!
We Did It! After a year long campaign, Portland will raise the minimum wage to $10.10 in January! Throughout this past year, the Southern Maine Workers’ Center has been at the center of an organizing effort for a universal, enforceable, living wage in Portland. SMWC members worked in partnership with low-wage workers, faith leaders and…
Read MoreJune 15, 2015
Joining Our Voices For Justice: One Member’s Story
On Sunday, May 31st Health Care is a Human Right organizers were invited by a new member-organizer and congregate of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sanford to participate in a special service and discussion focused on health care justice. Reverend Sue Gabrielson focused her powerful sermon on a 1992 resolution by the UU General Assembly…
Read MoreMay 1, 2015
A Belief In Caring For One Another: Building the HCHR Movement with Faith Communities
Health Care is a Human Right (HCHR) organizers from Portland were blessed to spend last weekend (April 25-26) learning and building community with members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth. On Sunday, Cait Vaughan and Barrett Littlefield were joined by more than 15 participants for a practical training in using the SMWC health care…
Read MoreMarch 23, 2015
Statement of Solidarity Regarding the Biennial Budget
Released March 3rd, 2015 The Committees on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Health and Human Services will hear testimony this week on Governor Paul LePage’s biennial budget, with Tuesday centering on proposed cuts to public programs, including: General Assistance (GA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Food Supplement (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). These…
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2015
Solidarity with the Vermont Workers Center on their January 8th day of action for all health care for all people
Health Care is a Human Right: Solidarity with the Vermont Workers Center on their January 8th day of action for all health care for all people The Southern Maine Workers’ Center acts in solidarity with the Vermont Workers’ Center and the people of Vermont. Established by low-income workers in 1998, the Vermont Workers’ Center has since acted as a powerful example…
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2015
Together We Will Find the Way: Our Anti-Racist Organizing Commitments
Together We Will Find the Way: Our Anti-Racist Organizing Commitments Southern Maine Workers’ Center December 1, 2014 Events of the last several months have made us all too aware that outward expressions of systemic racism are worsening, both in Maine and nationally, as deeply held attitudes about race are brought to the surface. The rhetoric of…
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