New Union Recognized for Maine Farm Groups

Employees at Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and MOFGA Certification Services have formalized representation with MSEA-SEIU

October 25, 2024 – Employees at The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and MOFGA Certification Services (MCS) have formed a union with Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA-SEIU Local 1989). This week MOFGA and MCS announced the voluntary recognition of their staff’s new union.

MOFGA and MCS workers came together in September to form their union, MOFGA Workers United, and requested recognition. In their founding mission statement MOFGA workers wrote, “We know that unionizing supports the communities and values that MOFGA has created and promoted since its inception and will strengthen the organization. . .Our union centers non-director staff voices and the unique perspectives that stem from MOFGA’s everyday work, ensuring that those most impacted have a say in decision-making and culture at the organization.” Link to union mission statement.

Kaitlynn McGuire, Database Manager of MOFGA, said, “Unionizing is an act of deep care for the organization and demonstrates staff’s dedication to our values of equity, transparency, and sustainability. We strongly believe in the work we do and are excited to further strengthen MOFGA, uphold our organizational values through this work, and stand as an example for other nonprofits trying to live their values.”

Ellen Sabina, Board President of MOFGA, shared, “As one of the oldest and largest organic organizations in the country, MOFGA and MOFGA Certification Services have always been leaders in the organic movement. The board and the MCS management committee are proud to continue our tradition of leadership by voting unanimously to voluntarily recognize the two employee bargaining units. We were the first organization to create an organic certification, and now we will be the first organic group and organic certifying organization to have staff unions.”

MOFGA’s founding principles advocate for grassroots community involvement and long-term sustainability. Just as MOFGA advocates for economic and social justice for farm businesses and farm workers, MOFGA strives to provide fair wages, benefits and terms of employment for its staff members. The new staff union brings those values to the forefront, ensuring that the organization prioritizes staff sustainability in all their work.

Melissa McLaughlin, Office Manager at MOFGA, said, “I’m excited to be a part of forming MOFGA Workers United. Our union will help us promote MOFGA’s values of equity and sustainability internally, ensuring that those principles guide both our mission and our workplace. This is a step toward making our organization an even better place to work. It’s also part of a broader movement to improve the whole nonprofit sector, ensuring that equity and sustainability become standards for everyone, and not just aspirations.”

Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of MOFGA, noted, “Democracy and equity are central to our mission to transform our food system by supporting farmers, empowering people to feed their communities, and advocating for an organic future. Staff’s work in unionizing provides a democratic pathway for employees to continue to be engaged in how we will accomplish our mission. We look forward to working with our employees to formalize our first contract and continue the impactful programming and services we provide for our agricultural community.”