All part-time faculty members in the University of Maine System are invited to participate in PATFA’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 24. We will gather via Zoom.
The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and is likely to last no more than 90 minutes. This year, you must RSVP at the email patfa@maine.edu if you plan to attend.
PATFA is the Part-time Faculty Association of Maine, Local 4593, of the American Federation of Teachers. We represent the 2,000 adjunct faculty members in the University of Maine System. While only PATFA members may vote at the Annual Meeting, all part-time faculty members are invited to attend.
On the agenda: updates on pandemic work options; digital contracts; plans for 2021 contract negotiations; and officer elections.
PATFA has a four-member Executive Council: president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. The four incumbent officers have indicated they are seeking re-election. They are: Michele Cheung, USM, president; Jim Seymour, UMA, vice president; Pam Mitchel, UMF, treasurer; and Tom McCord, UMA, secretary. Terms are for two years.
Nominations for each position may be made in writing in the days before the Annual Meeting or from the floor during the Annual Meeting. Under the PATFA constitution, if no office is contested, members may vote during the Annual Meeting. This year, members will be able to vote with their email addresses hidden. The officer vote will be overseen by a three-member ballot committee, which cannot include any of the candidates.
If one or more positions are contested, the vote shall take place by secret ballot via snail mail no more than one month after the Annual Meeting.
While negotiations on a new contract do not begin until next year, this is a timely way to share your views about priorities and issues. Everything is on the table: assignments, health care insurance options, academic-year appointments, evaluations, and pay.
RSVP (mandatory) for attendance: patfa@maine.edu. You will need to use your @maine.edu email for PATFA to use in voting. And PATFA will use that email to send to you the Zoom access codes.
Any nominations should be sent either to patfa@maine.edu or to PATFA, 311 Belfast Hall, UMA Bangor, 85 Texas Ave., Bangor ME 04401-4340.