The Maine Department of Transportation recently increased the pay for consultants, but this has caused frustration among the department’s workers. The workers, including transportation engineers and snow plow drivers, are in the middle of contract talks with the state.
The consultant pay increased from $50 to $85 an hour, upsetting the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA), which represents state workers. They have been negotiating for a new contract, but the talks have been stalled for months.
The MSEA president, Dean Staffieri, mentioned that the union and the state are far apart in their proposals. The state has offered a cumulative 7 percent increase through 2025, while the union pitched a $5 per hour increase this year and an 11 percent raise in 2024.
The frustration among workers grew when the consultant wage limit was raised. The MSEA believes that the state should prioritize its workers over consultants, especially during ongoing contract negotiations.
The Department of Administrative and Financial Services stated that the state has increased MSEA employee wages by nearly 14 percent since 2019, and they are committed to providing a pay raise. The state has allocated up to $99 million for negotiations, but this money needs reauthorization if a deal is not reached by the end of the month.
The change in consultant wages came after a request from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Maine. The Department of Transportation decided to adjust the wage limit, not eliminate it, based on inflation and increased compensation for engineers. The new limit is $85 an hour for new contracts starting October 1, with a 2.5 percent annual increase from 2025.
The MSEA is frustrated because state studies have shown that workers are underpaid compared to their counterparts in the public and private sectors. This pay gap has affected the recruitment and retention of state workers, with many positions remaining vacant.
Despite the frustration, the Department of Transportation believes the change in consultant wages is necessary to limit waiver requests and ensure that senior-level engineers are not burdened with simple projects. However, the MSEA emphasizes the need for fair compensation for state workers facing living cost challenges.
