Talk about awkward.

On one side of the bargaining table at the McTeague-Higbee law firm were negotiators for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

On the other side were the lawyers who typically represent the machinists union.

Normally allied against a common corporate foe, the two groups instead found themselves negotiating with each other as they hammered out a first-ever union contract for the office staff of the Topsham law firm to benefit paralegals, bookkeepers, maintenance staff and others.

The process took months.

“It made for some interesting dynamics,” paralegal Carol Sanborn, one of the bargaining committee members, wrote in an email. “Our lawyers are normally sitting on the same side of the table as the unions, and in this situation – for the first time – they found themselves sitting on the management side.”

But that was in 2012. On Jan. 16, the union signed its second three-year contract with the 11-lawyer firm, this time in just under eight hours.

“Having worked together for three years under the prior contract, we started with a solid understanding of how this contract would work, and we had established a level of rapport that contributed to a smoother process and a quicker resolution,” said Sanborn.

McTeague-Higbee has made its name fighting for workers’ rights since its founding in 1976. It’s the only law firm in Maine with a unionized staff.

“By fully embracing unionization of our staff, we are doing our best to live up to our own motto: Justice for All,” managing partner Kevin Noonan said in a media release announcing the new contract.

The contract includes wage increases of 3.25 percent the first year and 3 percent in each of the next two years, as well as increased contributions to the machinists union’s pension plan, and continuation of the union health care plan, grievance and arbitration procedures, seniority provisions and paid time off.

The union represents about 16 employees at the firm.

GAINS IN LOCAL Giving

United Way of Greater Portland has hit a five-year high for contributions. The agency, which funds community and nonprofit operations, expects the 2015 campaign to total $7.74 million when it concludes in May. The target had been $7.6 million, and reflects a 7 percent increase over 2014’s giving.

“I have been involved with (United Way) for a number of years, and I continue to be amazed at the generosity of the Greater Portland community in supporting the education, financial stability, and health needs of our residents through United Way’s Annual Campaign,” Bill Caron, president of MaineHealth and the 2015 campaign co-chairman, said in a media release.

Among this year’s highlights:

n The John T. Gorman Foundation doubled its donor impact with a $250,000 matching grant.

n L.L. Bean, Unum, Hannaford, Idexx, TD Bank and MaineHealth were the top corporate leaders, collectively contributing more than $3.5 million.

n Twenty-two new households contributed $10,000 or more, raising over $1.1 million.

n Fifty-one small businesses donated at least $365 as part of United Way’s new 365 Small Business Circle. The TD Charitable Foundation added an additional $36,500.

n Seven leaders were loaned by local companies to run workplace campaigns over nine weeks to educate others about United Way’s impact.

Speaking of community contributions, The Westin Portland Harborview’s restaurant will donate 5 percent of food sales on Mondays to nonprofits around the state.

Called Mondays Matter, the hotel said in a media release that a designated Maine nonprofit will receive a share of Monday proceeds for a month. The first six beneficiaries are: February, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association; March, Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland; April, Maine Farmland Trust; May, Maine Public Broadcasting Network; June, Equality Maine; and July, Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.

“Portlanders love their local restaurant scene, so with Mondays Matter, they can support local nonprofits by doing something they already do – dine out,” Jeffery Burrell, general manager, said in the release.

BACK TO ITS ROOTS

Keep your eyes peeled for an ad airing during Sunday’s Super Bowl touting the new name and direction of The First, a 150-year-old Damariscotta bank. On Monday, the bank changed its name to First National Bank, harkening back to its pre-2005 roots when First National Bank of Bar Harbor merged with First National Bank of Damariscotta.

The documentary-style ad is composed of crowd-sourced video snapshots from Maine filmmakers that feature real Mainers talking about dreaming big, the bank’s theme for 2016. Tony McKim, First National’s new president, said he will launch a speaking and listening campaign, called Dream First, throughout the bank’s predominantly Down East market. The yearlong campaign is expected to culminate “in a significant community announcement later in 2016,” according to a news release from the bank.

And also new – the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce changed its name last week to the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

The change is the result of an eight-month rebranding effort. Matt Leonard, chamber president, said the word “metropolitan” better reflects the purpose and activity of the chamber – a group of different communities working together to achieve a goal.

Besides a new logo and website, the chamber also has adopted a new tagline: Build. Lead. Thrive.

Business Editor Carol Coultas can be contacted at 791-6460 or at:

ccoultas@pressherald.com

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