AUGUSTA — Retired state workers and teachers rallied in the State House today to protest pension changes proposed in Gov. Paul LePage’s two-year budget.

“Rather than focus on creating jobs, Gov. LePage is again trying to divide Maine people with his tax breaks for the wealthy, his attacks on retiree pensions, and even his attack on the labor history mural,” said Jackie Roach of Oakland, a retired teacher.

LePage is proposing to freeze cost-of-living increases for retirees for three years and then lower the cap from 4 percent to 2 percent thereafter. He also proposed to put a freeze on the state’s contribution to health insurance for active and retired state workers, which will result in higher costs for individuals, according to union officials.

Today’s rally, which drew 100-200 people, is in advance of a much larger protest planned for Thursday when hundreds of union members are expected to rally in opposition to a bill that would eliminate mandatory service fees paid by nonunion members.



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