AUGUSTA (AP) — For the first time in more than two years, Maine’s primary state employees union has a new contract.
The Kennebec Journal (http://bit.ly/13lbMrM ) reported that members of the Maine State Employees Union voted by a wide margin on Tuesday to ratify a two-year agreement that includes a pair of 1 percent wage increases, the first taking effect in September and another in July 2014. Some employees will also receive merit increases under the deal.
The new contract is retroactive to July 1. The union had been working without a new contract since 2011.
Union negotiators reached a deal with Gov. Paul LePage’s administration earlier this month after more than two years of negotiations.
LePage’s office said the deal eliminates unnecessary perks that cost taxpayers money.
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