In America, if you work hard, you should be able to provide for your family and get ahead. In many ways, we’re failing to live up to that basic promise. While our economy has been growing steadily for the last decade and corporate profits have surged, regular folks — many of them the people working for these corporations — haven’t seen the benefit. Wages for workers actually fell last year when inflation and the rising cost of living are taken into account.

Jared believes that one of the best ways to restore the American promise is to give workers a more powerful seat at the table and strengthen labor unions to fight for fair wages, quality and affordable healthcare coverage, retirement benefits, and a safe work environment. Unions have deep roots in Maine and Jared is committed to empowering them and helping them expand to more workers and industries. Since taking office, he has visited union halls and worksites throughout the state talking with union leaders and members about how he can stand up for workers. 

Jared is an original cosponsor of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, comprehensive legislation to strengthen American unions. The landmark bill adds protections for union workers and increases their power to bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. 

Unions provide critical apprenticeship and job training programs to thousands of Mainers and Jared is working to help unions expand and improve those programs. Particularly in Maine’s forest products, manufacturing, and shipbuilding industries, unions are playing a pivotal role in growing the skilled workforce our state needs to attract and retain good jobs. Jared has stood up to the administration’s attempts to weaken union training and apprenticeship programs.