MSEA-SEIU

To opt out of MSEA-SEIU dues:

Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
On the resulting page, click the link to open your customized form. You will also receive an email with a link to your form.
Print the form. If you check the appropriate box about needing a printed version, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
Sign and date the form, and make two copies.
Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.
Provide a copy to your employer’s payroll officer and keep a copy for your files.

The Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989 (“MSEA-SEIU”) is the designated union for approximately 9,000 public employees in Maine, including state, local government, school district, and community college employees.

For years, public employees in Maine have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like MSEA-SEIU to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will.

The court ruled that the mandatory dues requirement violated workers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association, and that public employees have the right to choose for themselves whether to pay union dues.

You can opt out of MSEA-SEIU dues by filling out the form above, printing it, and mailing it to the union.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I send my resignation to the union?

You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.

In most cases, union dues are automatically deducted from employees’ paychecks. Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. If the deductions continue for more than a couple of pay periods after submitting your opt-out request, contact the union.

Finally, keep in mind:

Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like MSEA-SEIU sometimes place restrictions on when they will accept opt-out requests. If the union refuses to immediately cancel dues deductions from your pay, ask them to provide you with written documentation and contact us for assistance.

How much are MSEA-SEIU dues?

According to federal filings, MSEA-SEIU dues can be as high as $53.24 per month.

Will the union continue to represent me if I opt out?

Yes. MSEA-SEIU has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of its bargaining units, meaning it is impossible for workers to get out of the terms of the contract, even if they cease paying dues.

In exchange for the monopoly on this particular service, MSEA-SEIU is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union and your employer will continue to set the terms and conditions of your employment, and the union will continue to represent you in grievances, contract enforcement, discipline assistance, or other proceedings governed by the collective bargaining agreement.

Will I lose wages, health care, retirement, or other benefits if I opt out?

No. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your compensation, health benefits, retirement, and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of MSEA-SEIU.

How will my relationship with the union change if I opt out?

While the terms of the contract will still govern your employment, union officials commonly prohibit nonmembers from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings, voting for union officers, or participating in contract ratification votes. You’ll also be ineligible for any special “members only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance, scholarship programs, or deals the union has arranged with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.

Why do people opt out of the union?

People have many reasons for not wanting to support the union. Some simply do not believe the services the union provides are worth the dues it charges. Others may find the union’s one-size-fits-all agenda does not serve them well because they are new to the profession, have a specialty that is not acknowledged in bargaining, or they believe their effectiveness is undercompensated. Some resent the union’s role in enabling and defending underperforming employees. Many find the union’s political activity and use of dues to advance partisan causes, candidates, and ideology distasteful. Still others believe that union officials are corrupt and unaccountable to their membership.

Unions representing public employees are not governed by the usual consumer protection or anti-trust laws, so abuses are common. Unions can charge whatever they wish. They can spend dues money on anything they want. Often, they do not have to disclose how dues money is spent to members. They can speak for employees without consulting or informing them. They can injure some members’ interests while advancing the interests of others. Unions even have the ability to prevent employees from getting help in their workplace from other sources. They are not governed by any obligation to provide quality service, and almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.

How does MSEA-SEIU spend my dues money?

MSEA/SEIU 1989

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the U.S. Department of Labor, MSEA-SEIU collected $4.7 million in dues and fees from members in 2025.

In 2025 alone:

$1 million was contributed to the SEIU national affiliate. SEIU HQ consistently supports controversial organizations.
$388,711 was spent on political activities and lobbying.
$117,370 was spent on rent and mortgage payments.
$2.2 million was spent on total disbursements to employees.

MSEA-SEIU paid 29 employees in 2025, with 4 receiving six-figure salaries. MSEA-SEIU’s executive director, Alexander Maybarduk, received the highest compensation at $146,801.

Additionally, the union reported a cash stockpile of $3.4 million at the end of 2025.

MSEA-SEIU’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020.

Service Employees International Union

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the U.S. Department of Labor, SEIU headquarters collected over $259 million from local affiliates and members in 2024.

In 2024 alone:

$46 million was spent by SEIU HQ on divisive political candidates, causes, and lobbying.
$4.8 million was paid or contributed to largely ideological organizations.
$2.2 million was spent on office expenses, promotional items, and union advertising.
$29.4 million was spent on conferences and catering over the course of the year.
$10.4 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel for union staff.

SEIU paid 497 officers and employees in 2024, with 344 receiving six-figure salaries. SEIU’s International President, April Verrett, was paid $301,513.

As of 2024, SEIU has accumulated a cash stockpile of $23,774,576.

SEIU’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.