Union members from across the state joined graduate student workers at the University of Maine in Orono today, to call for fair contract negotiations.

The graduate workers union has been in negotiations for its first contract for more than 630 days, and said the current pay and benefits are far behind what are offered at UMaine's peer universities.

Members of other Maine unions joined in solidarity, and said graduate workers are a key part of many industries' success in the state.

Eric McLean is a member of United Steel Workers, and works at Nine Dragons paper mill in Rumford.

"Our workforce benefits from their research," he said. "They instruct classes, educate the future employees of Maine pulp and paper mills. These graduate workers deserve a living wage, good benefits and safe work

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