Covid-19Worker Rights

April 29, 2021

Know Your Rights – Maine’s Earned Paid Leave Law

Conheça seus direitos – disponível em PortuguesConoce tus derechos- Disponible en EspañolConnaissez vos droits: disponible en français What is Earned Paid Leave ?Also known as Public Law 2019 Ch. 156, “An Act Authorizing Earned Employee Leave,” Maine’s Earned Paid Leave law (EPL) went into effect on New Year’s Day 2021, a year and a half…

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Events

April 28th, 2021

2021 Annual Meeting: Solidarity Reaches Across the Divide

Solidarity isn’t an abstract noun, it is a real and powerful force that allows us to reach across the divisions that segregate and isolate us all. The movement we commit to would be hollow in the middle without that feeling of solidarity. It sustains us, brings deep meaning to our work, and it means that,…

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Jobs

April 2, 2021

SMWC is hiring an Executive Director! (Extended Deadline)

About the Southern Maine Workers Center The Southern Maine Workers’ Center (SMWC) is a membership organization committed to creating a people-powered movement that improves the lives, working conditions, and terms of employment for working and poor people in Maine— particularly low-wage workers, young people, immigrant workers, and people of color.  SMWC conducts transformative grassroots organizing…

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Jobs

March 23, 2021

Requesting Proposals for Graphic Design Services

The Workers’ Center issues this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for an individual or firm (the “Contractor”) to develop a style guide of colors, fonts, use of logos, use of taglines, etc. Support SMWC in producing guidelines for consistent, coherent look for all our publications & graphics.

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Events

March 10, 2021

Cantastoria Launch (03.26.21)

03/26/21 7:00-8:30 PM Cantastoria is a virtual storytelling event to spark conversation about our co-occurring economic and health crises, and build community-driven solutions. The panels contain painted scenes or imagery that depict history and inspire a hopeful vision for change in a time when many in Maine are suffering from the impacts of the COVID-19…

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News

February 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…

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News

January 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…

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Jobs

December 17, 2020

SMWC is hiring! Joint Committee Organizer.

Joint Committee Organizer Job Description The Joint Committee Organizer is a permanent (ongoing) staff position with the immediate goal of supporting members in building out our new Joint Committee project through outreach and leadership development. The Joint Organizing Committee is a new project at the Southern Maine Workers’ Center. For years, we have organized campaigns…

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ArticlesHealthcare

December 9, 2020

How did we get here? A brief history of healthcare and formation of ACA

This is the second in a series of brief articles by members of the Southern Maine Workers Center’s Health Care is a Human Right Committee. We have covered current challenges to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the ACA in the broader context of American health care history, and will soon cover how successful or not…

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ArticlesHealthcare

November 23, 2020

What’s Going On with the Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, is back in the Supreme Court this year and the court heard oral arguments last Tuesday, November 10. The case, California V Texas, is challenging the constitutionality of the law’s “individual mandate” that requires everyone purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. The case will likely be decided in June. In this short article, we will explore the legal challenge and it’s potential outcome and consequences.

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