Members of the Part-time Faculty Association of Maine (PATFA) gathered at two locations simultaneously May 21 for an Annual Meeting that wound up focusing on basic issues such as evaluations, scheduling and pay.
President Michele Cheung led the discussions from Orono and reported on the recently concluded contract negotiations with the University of Maine System. UMS adjunct pay per credit hour will increase 2 percent across the board, starting Sept. 1, and adjuncts who have taught 13 or more fall or spring semesters (known as “service units”) will receive an additional 1 percent increase.
PATFA and System trustees approved the 2015-2017 contract this winter, and it is now available at the System website. It can be found quickly by using the drop-down box labeled “Resources” at the PATFA website, patfa.me.aft.org.
Cheung stressed her desire for PATFA to work person to person, with adjuncts seeking out colleagues to determine their needs and answer their questions. She also emphasized the need for PATFA members to raise their academic ranks – many adjuncts are teaching at Lecturer ranks that are lower than they are entitled to.
But much of the discussion at the meetings at the University of Maine in Orono and the University of Southern Maine in Portland revolved around inconsistencies among the seven System universities – and even among departments – in day-to-day matters involving teaching.
One professor reported that she could set the cut-off point for students to take her course evaluations; others reported that their cutoff dates were set for a uniform date. One professor reporting getting no pay for leading an independent study; two others reported receiving two different fees for the same thing. The issue of pro rata pay – paying a professor in proportion to the number of students in a class – triggered more discussion. The contract sets minimum pay per credit hour.
Cheung concluded the discussions by laying out a path to address these issues in future negotiations and, sometimes, through informal contacts with adjuncts and university leaders.
Members elected Cheung to represent Local 4593 at the biennial American Federation of Teachers convention in Minneapolis this July. Cheung and fellow Executive Council members Jim Seymour (vice president), Pam Mitchel (treasurer), and Tom McCord (secretary) were nominated for two-year terms. A secret ballot vote will occur by the end of June.