Dear Friend,

Maine people should be able to put family first without sacrificing their job and financial security.  

That’s why the Maine Paid Leave Coalition is inviting all candidates for the Maine Legislature to join us in support of paid family & medical leave for all Mainers.  

Paid family and medical leave – extended time away from work to care for a new baby, or oneself or loved one during illness or injury – is good for Maine. It supports infant health, older Mainers, small businesses, and racial and gender equity. Still, only 15 percent of Maine people have access to paid family & medical leave.  

Mainers are ready. A recent survey showed that over 75 percent of Mainers support the creation of a statewide paid family & medical leave system, across all regions and party lines.  

Now is the time for all candidates for the Maine Legislature to join us in this work, and we need your help. Can you ask your legislative candidates to pledge to support paid family & medical leave today? Paid leave is good for all of us, but it will take all of us to make paid leave a possibility for Maine.  

Thank you for being a paid leave champion!

Catie & the Maine Paid Leave Coalition

P.S. Paid family and medical leave is in the news! This national article puts the spotlight on Maine and the ballot initiative that’s underway. You can learn more about the ballot initiative and sign up to collect signatures on Election Day here.

Read about the Paid Family and Medical Leave Commission Progress

This month, the Maine PFML Commission released a study showing some of the possible costs of a PFML system for Maine. You can read the full study here, and join the next Commission meeting on October 3, 2022 at 2pm.

Our Coalition responded to the study with additional information and requests that the Commission consider additional factors, such as a progressive wage replacement (so that lower-income earners get more of their paycheck back during their leave, and saving the overall program more money). You can read our memo and follow along for updates here.  

Read more: “Study shows viability of paid leave in Maine,” The Maine Beacon, Sept. 16, 2022 

Join the Chorus!

Do you love paid leave so much that you want to let your community know? We now have downloadable graphics and messages that you can share on social media and with your friends. Just visit our Coalition’s public messages and find images, stats, stories, and more. Together we can spread the word and build excitement for Maine’s paid leave possibilities.

Get Involved!

There are so many ways for you to help make our paid leave possibilities a reality.

Share our candidate toolkit for information, messages, and downloadable graphics that candidates can share with their voters.

Read the stories of Mainers who needed time to care – or whose lives were transformed by access to PFML and share your own.  

Volunteer to host a community coffee hour or info session, in person or by Zoom

Sign up to collect signatures for the Paid Leave ballot initiative on Election Day!

Visit our Take Action page to find an action that’s right for you.

Paid family and medical leave is good for everyone, and everyone has a role to help us meet our paid leave possibilities.