Former local man accepts D.C. post

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    Dana Graham formerly of Houlton has accepted a job in Washington, D.C. for the Service Employees International Union. He will be lobbying Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
    The Employee Free Choice Act would require an employer to recognize its employees union through majority signup. This is a process in which workers present signed authorization cards to demonstrate their choice to belong to a union. Majority signup provides a viable alternative for workers who typically experience obstacles in the National Labor Relations Board election process.
    The Employee Free Choice Act would require the NLRB to seek injunctive relief when it has reasonable cause to believe an employer significantly violated its employees’ rights.
    Graham, a 1967 graduate of Houlton High School worked for the Department of Transportation when he lived in the Houlton area. In the late ‘90s he and his wife, Debbie moved to Augusta where he held the position of vice president of the Maine State Employees Association for four years before becoming president for a term of four years.
    In 2008, he worked for Congressman Tom Allen in Portland as a representative for labor unions and supporting senior citizens issues.
    Graham expects to be in Washington for six months to a year. Along with supporting the Employee Free Choice Act he will also work for the benefit of senior citizens.
   Graham said, “I have heard horror stories from many senior citizens. Several have lost their retirements through the recent investment scams in New York City, others must share medications because they have no prescription coverage.”
 Graham said one couple told him they were on the same medication and the wife takes the pills the first three days of the week and the husband takes them the next three days just to get by because the medication is so expensive. Others are dealing with the high cost of fuel to keep warm. Graham says that it is sad and he will try to work for some improvement for them.
 While working in Washington, D.C., Graham will be living in the Arlington, Va. area. He shares housing with another member of the lobbyist group from California. Graham said that Washington life is hectic and costly, but he feels the experience is very worthwhile. He flies back to his home in Sydney every few weeks.
    Graham’s sons, Shawn and Montie Graham still live in the Houlton area, as do his daughters Gidget Graham and Dana McAfee, while his stepson Roland Mortimer lives in Portland.