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Negotiations between UMPSA and the University have reached a standstill over salary increases and several other issues. The University has made a proposal for a 3% salary increase for each of the next two years. The University has proposed a dental insurance plan, but the premiums would have to come out of the money proposed for salary increases. The University has not offered to put any additional money toward the dental plan.

UMPSA negotiators have attempted to move the University to a more reasonable position by suggesting some "creative thinking, some creative ideas," according to UMPSA's chief negotiator Bruce Littlefield (UM). Thus far, the only ideas put forth by UMS negotiators was to cancel scheduled meetings, Littlefield stated.

The University reached agreement with the Faculty several weeks ago and a tentative agreement was reached with ACSUM on June 19. Both of those agreements were settled despite very contentious issues on the table. "We think that the University has the ability to make UMPSA some offers which reach the same level of concern and commitment shown to the other unions. To this point, that hasn't happened, even though we have made it clear to the University what UMPSA's position is with regard to salary and other benefits," Littlefield said. "The Faculty and the ACSUM unit were given offers that their negotiators and members considered fair and reasonable. We are waiting for the same kind of offers."

The Association has asked for some minor language changes as well, which the University has been unwilling to consider. The University has asked that the Association agree to rollbacks in notice and severance benefits for employees to be laid off. UMPSA has refused to consider the University's request for these rollbacks.

Problems in UMPSA's negotiations surfaced as a result of the tentative agreement with the faculty and the University. That agreement allows for a salary increase which is larger than 3% for two years. The agreement also provides a dental insurance plan that is funded by the University over and above the 3%+ salary increases. The University also managed to resolve problems around the classified retirement program which helped lead to ACSUM's agreement.

UMPSA has asked the University to provide the same level of salary increases, and the same structure for payment of dental insurance premiums as were offered to the faculty. Essentially, UMPSA is requesting parity with the faculty, but the University thus far has refused to agree that parity is even necessary, let alone possible.

Faculty negotiators have explained that the University has agreed to dip into its $40,000,000 reserve funds to pay for their tentative agreement. The reserve funds are supposed to be paid back eventually through salary savings from the early retirement program.

When UMPSA negotiators requested similar creativity to improve salary increases, the University's response was a flat refusal. The Association has continued to be frustrated by the University's apparent lack of interest in coming to a reasonable, fair and timely settlement with the Professional Staff Association. "We are asking the University for the same level of consideration that has been shown to the Faculty and to ACSUM. There is no reason for UMPSA to accept anything less," Littlefield said. He went on to say that both the Faculty and the classified staff have undergone successful salary and wage surveys, which have resulted in significant wage gains over the years. "We're still waiting for our study to be completed. We're still waiting for a reasonable contract offer from the University. We're still waiting for fair treatment."

The Salary Study Project continues to move forward despite the loss of one of the Evaluation Specialists and some personnel changes within the Wyatt Company, the consultant hired to direct the project. According to those who are involved in the project, there is reason to be optimistic that the job of evaluating non-benchmark jobs (approximately 500 individual positions) will be completed by August of this year.

All the questionnaire job data that has been received has been entered and the benchmark jobs have been evaluated. Solid, current market data on over 120 benchmark positions has been gathered from a Boston-based consulting firm. The market data has been entered and the remaining non-benchmark jobs are being evaluated. The Wyatt company will be creating the salary structure matrix shortly, based on the market data that was collected. Once the matrix is created, it will be handed over to UMPSA and the University. The matrix will associate a salary range with each job based upon the job responsibilities and market data.

Over 70% of the represented professionals in the University System have turned in their job data questionnaires. (THANKS FOLKS!) However, that means that 30% did not. When this system is implemented (implementation will be negotiated as part as the current contract talks) all positions must eventually be entered. This implementation will not include dollars at this time, but will include administrative and procedural guidelines, agreement on ranges and other details which must be in place before actual salary adjustments can be made.

With almost three quarters of the unit positions in the database, hard data on gender and salary inequities will be gathered, and realistic estimates of the cost to fix all the salaries of current employees will be developed. Members of the UMPSA Salary Study Committee believe that a large portion of the unit will be impacted by the results of the study and eventual implementation. The total dollar amount to implement the results of the study will have to be negotiated by UMPSA and UMS.

During the past six months, considerable time has been devoted to verifying the software developed by the Wyatt Company for the University. Ultimately, the information for salary adjustments, as well as for establishing salaries for new positions, will be maintained in a central data base and will be available at each campus.

UMPSA employees are urged to attend the UMS Board of Trustees meeting on July 14 to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the current state of contract negotiations with the University.

UMPSA unit members are asked to attend the meeting, to be held at the System office in Bangor, and rally before the meeting in a show of support for UMPSA negotiators. There have been no sessions held between the University and UMPSA since May 22, and none are scheduled at this time.

UMPSA's negotiators have been frustrated by the University's apparent lack of concern with the Association's issues. Further frustration has come about as a result of settlements by AFUM and ACSUM, overcoming significant obstacles to reach reasonable settlements which are expected to be ratified by the Trustees and the Association members. "Why won't the University work with UMSA the way they have with other groups?" was the question asked by UMPSA's chief negotiator, Bruce Littlefield (UM).

UMPSA's negotiators are requesting that unit members assemble at the UMS Chancellor's office at noon on July 14. Unit members will be asked to take part in informational picketing, leafletting and to attend the Board meeting in a show of support for the negotiating team. The Chancellor's office is located at 107 Maine Avenue in Bangor, near the Bangor International Airport.

"We want the Trustees to know that this unit is just as important to the University and its students as the Faculty and ACSUM. We want to be treated with the same respect and dignity as those units," Littlefield said. "We should not be put in the position where unit members feel that the University has failed to recognize their contributions to the institution and needs as employees."

Unit members are asked to contact a member of the negotiating team or UMPSA Executive Board for more details about this important event. (list)

MEA has established a web page for Association members in higher education at http://www.mint.net/meahe. Association members can now access this web site for information about contract negotiations, Association activities and programs, information about employment and employment rights, lists of Association leaders, member benefits, and other important and useful information.

The web site has been up for about two months, and is still being developed. At this time, the site is being maintained by Stew Kinley, the MEA UniServ Director for AFUM. There are plans being made for administration of the site so information can be added and updated on a regular basis, including all five of the MEA's higher education units.

MEA members who want to add information to the site, or who have suggestions regarding what could be included should contact Stew at 1-888-942-2907 (ext.107). Stew can also be reached by email at skinley@nea.org.

For those who need information about UMPSA specifically, connect to the UMPSA web page at http://www.eece.maine.edu/umpsa. The current UMPSA contract and the full text of the Salary Study Report and executive summary are available on-line. Late-breaking news will be posted there as well. A mailing list is also available for the free discussion of topics related to Professional employment at the University of Maine. See the UMPSA web page for specific instructions for joining the list.