Maine’s Economy

Progress for farmworkers — but full justice still denied

Last week, Maine took a historic step forward by extending the state’s minimum wage to include farmworkers. For too long, the people who grow and harvest the […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted June 19, 2025

Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Maine shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of direct care workers

At a glance: Proposed budget cuts would lower direct care labor reimbursements, reducing pay and worsening workforce shortages Low wages for direct care professionals already impose significant […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted March 5, 2025

Tags Budget, Caregiving, Direct Care Work, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Maine must invest in child care, not cut it

At a glance: Proposed budget cuts to child care funding will reduce wages for child care workers, limit child care availability, and weaken Maine’s economy Child care […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted March 3, 2025

Tags Budget, Caregiving, Child Care, Children, Direct Care Work, Tax Fairness, Taxes

Jobs and Income

Farmworker Rights — An Explainer

Print Updated March 31, 2025 Who are Maine’s farmworkers? The people who milk our cows, rake our blueberries, harvest our potatoes, and do the hard work to […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted August 29, 2024

Tags Explainer, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Poverty, Racial Equity, Unions, Wages

Health Care, Jobs and Income

Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

Download the PDF version full report Summary Stories Today in Maine, thousands of older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health challenges do not receive […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted June 17, 2024

Tags Caregiving, Direct Care Work, Economic Security, Employment, Health Care, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Worker justice wins and losses in the 2024 legislative session

The second session of Maine’s 131st legislature ended Friday, as resistance from Governor Mills and inaction in the House left many important bills to die. While lawmakers […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted May 15, 2024

Tags Budget, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Wages

Health Care

Proposed changes to Medicare Savings Program would impact 45,000 older Mainers’ eligibility for health care benefits

Last year, Governor Mills signed a budget into law that expanded eligibility to the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), a profound investment in helping older Mainers pay for […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted February 29, 2024

Tags Health Care, Medicare, Seniors

Jobs and Income

New approaches needed to protect Maine workers’ rights

All Maine workers are entitled to the wages they earn and protection from other labor law violations. However, recent data and economic research show how woefully inadequate […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted February 15, 2024

Tags Job Quality, Jobs

Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy

Child care legislation to benefit Maine workers and families

Recent years have taught us child care workers are truly essential. Without them, other workers are forced to leave work to care for young children, costing them […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted May 9, 2023

Tags Child Care, Children, Economic Security, Economy, Employment, Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs

Jobs and Income

Farmworkers deserve the same rights as all workers

Workers are the engine of the economy, and they all deserve dignity, respect, and to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Yet, […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted May 2, 2023

Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Racial Equity, Unions, Wages

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Progress for farmworkers — but full justice still denied

Maine shouldn't balance the budget on the backs of direct care workers

Maine must invest in child care, not cut it

Farmworker Rights — An Explainer

Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

Worker justice wins and losses in the 2024 legislative session

Proposed changes to Medicare Savings Program would impact 45,000 older Mainers’ eligibility for health care benefits

New approaches needed to protect Maine workers’ rights

Child care legislation to benefit Maine workers and families

Farmworkers deserve the same rights as all workers