Farmworkers in Maine are essential workers, yet they are not considered employees and can be paid less than minimum wage and can’t get overtime.

They can also be fired for attempting to organize a union.

The risk is great. Many farmworkers are migrants who if fired will not just lose their jobs, they’ll lose their housing too – put on the street with no money, no job, and often speaking very little English hundreds of miles from their families.

State Rep. Tom Harnett introduced a law to allow farmworkers to unionize and finally give them a fair shot at organizing for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. It was passed by both the Senate and House, yet Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills vetoed it.

Watch our report exposing the full story and then build pressure on Governor Mills – who is up for reelection this year – to change course and support their right to form a union when the Maine legislature sends her a new bill again this year by adding your name now!

Petition Text:

TO: Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills

Farmworkers deserve the respect and dignity to self organize and collective bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. They should not be held down by a Jim Crow era law that allows employers to pay less than minimum wage, provide no overtime pay and fire workers who try to form a union.

Both Houses of the Maine legislature passed a law to do it and you vetoed it. This is unacceptable.

Farmworkers deserve the same rights as every other worker across the country. The legislature will pass a new bill this year to correct this nearly 100 year old law and finally provide dignity and respect to all of Maine’s essential workers. I call on you to sign that bill into law.

In this critical election year, with leaders in the Maine legislature and yourself up for reelection. You can be sure the people of Maine and across the country will be watching.