Good news! Come Sept. 1, all part-time faculty teaching in the University of Maine System will receive a 2 percent raise in their pay, the Maine Part-time Faculty Association announced April 18.
Adjuncts who have taught 13 or more fall and spring semesters will receive an additional 1 percent raise.
The raise is part of a new 2015-17 contract between PATFA and the University of Maine System. PATFA members voted unanimously in late February to endorse the new contract, and the System board of trustees approved it March 16.
PATFA represents 2,180 people who teach part-time in the University of Maine System’s seven universities. About 600 to 800 teach in any single semester. The new two-year contract runs from Sept. 1, 2015, to Aug. 31, 2017. It governs course assignments, pay, rank advancement, workloads, grievances, limited benefits, and academic freedom issues.
PATFA and the System met for eight bargaining sessions, stretching from January to November 2015. PATFA then requested state-led mediation in early 2016. At first, it appeared the 2 percent raise would cover only those in the per-credit-hour pay scale who have taught 13 to 19 service units (fall or spring semesters). But negotiators have since clarified that the 2 percent raise applies to adjuncts across the board.
Rates for part-time regular faculty will increase 2 percent for the 2016-17 academic year, and part-time faculty paid above the minimum rates will receive the dollar value of the 2 percent increase, starting Sept. 1, 2016.
Adjuncts who teach in Fall 2016 should check their online pay stubs after the first pay day, Sept. 30, to make sure their rate of pay reflects the change.