It’s important to remember that the University of Maine System considers the part-time faculty “bargaining unit” to be those part-time faculty members “who have taught at least two semesters of the four immediately preceding semesters (fall or spring) and who are so employed in the current semester.” Still, the PATFA contract has bearing for newcomers and those not teaching this immediate semester. For one thing, HR uses the wage minima as a guide for all new part-timers.

Assignments are always a moving target, for full-time faculty and part-time faculty. Course sections are scheduled, then canceled; Professor X switches suddenly, leaving a section opening; enrollments force changes; and some assignments involve labs, studios, and shared teaching.

Sometimes it helps to see the big picture. This post explains a bit about PATFA and the University of Maine System and how they relate to each other – and how that affects you.

The grievance and discipline sections of our PATFA bargaining agreement deal with what can happen when, respectively, you are unhappy with a condition of your employment with the university and when the university is unhappy with your performance. In either case, the first step if you are an adjunct is to consult with the union to find out what your rights are and what steps you can take.

In the world of the PATFA contract, seniority counts, but summer teaching doesn’t. In this post, the Part-time Faculty Association wants to explain language that governs our service (seniority), rank, and even evidence of availability to teach.

So here are some tips and translations:

Here’s a news bulletin, fellow adjunct: You’re supposed to work only part time under the Part-time Faculty Association contract with the University of Maine System. In this post explaining the 2017-19 contract, you will also find language that shows how that sometimes gets stretched. And you will find language that you cannot be forced into accepting more than one course section per semester if that is your choice.

This post covers workload, assignment of responsibilities, excused absence, use of your car, and a list of related rights that can make your work smoother.

Do you feel safe in the classroom? Are you concerned about your classroom freedom? Do you know your responsibilities?

Our 2017-19 PATFA contract covers some of this ground – but other university rules come into play here too. To help clarify, the Part-time Faculty Association (PATFA), which represents all adjuncts in the University of Maine System, is sharing details about the PATFA contract. This post covers academic freedom, health and safety, and non-discrimination language in the contract.

The PATFA contract contains language that governs evaluations and personnel files. Keep these things in mind:

First, all adjuncts are supposed to be evaluated every fourth semester. Many have not, but that’s the responsibility of the full-time faculty in each department.

At our February RA meeting:

Lew Button (Staff Attorney 3 at SOTS) was nominated and accepted as our new Chief Negotiator.
and
Nicole Godburn (Principal Cost Analyst at DSS) was nominated and accepted as our new A&R Secretary.

Congratulations to both.

Also...the next Telecommuting meeting with the State is scheduled for Feb. 22.  There is an arbitration date set for March 27 if an agreement is not reached by that time.

News & Notes

Compiled by Tracy Radich, 1st Vice President

PDF Download