As a former state employee of nearly thirty years, and as a current Maine Service Employees Association member, I know that Maine’s state employees are treated as second class citizens. They are not allowed to speak publicly about state government problems for fear of losing their job or being reprimanded. Maine’s whistle blower law is totally inadequate and is rarely, if ever used. They are not allowed to run for state office with no valid reason. They are underpaid in comparison to equivalent jobs in the private sector. As a result, Maine government has a serious problem of hiring and retaining the best people. This must change.
These problems are the result of decades of neglect by Maine’s governors who have always taken state employees for granted.
Maine’s government employees are very special people. They work in often very stressful situations. They are often between a rock and a hard place, with management saying one thing and citizens saying another. They deserve our thanks and respect and good working conditions.
As governor, I will have an open door policy for all state employees. There will be a direct line of communication between each employee and the governor’s office. Far too often employee suggestions and employee identified problems and resolutions are stopped at the lower or middle management level. Whether the reason is internal politics or managerial incompetence, this must stop. The governor is ultimately responsible for all actions and inactions of the executive branch. As governor, I want and need to know about problems and potential solutions from all staff, because they are the ones who are dealing with these problems on a daily basis. Politics will not be the driving force behind my administration. People and the public interest will.
As far as wages and collective bargaining are concerned, at a minimum, I will support prevailing market wages for all state employees. I will support fair collective bargaining and quick contract resolution. As governor, my administration will treat state employees as we want to be treated.
