LePage and State Employees Reach a Compromise

Governor Paul LePage and the Maine State Employees Association havereached a compromise that will benefit federally funded state employees who are laid off because of the federal government shutdown.

The announcement comes eight days into negotiations with the MSEA and after multiple meetings. More than 100 state employees are currently laid off due to the federal government shutdown. The governor’s office says approximately 2,700 positions are tied to federal funds which could also be affected if Washington does not end the shutdown soon.

The union agreed in concept with the Governor’s proposals for the state to pay for employees’ health benefits during their lay-off period, for the state to waive the requirement that employees must search for work during the time they are collecting unemployment, and for employees to be paid with accrued vacation or leave time if the federal government does not provide them with back pay after the shutdown ends.