(This statement was presented to the University Negotiators at the bargaining table on April 7, 1999.)

The University of Maine Professional Staff Association is requesting that the University of Maine System make a good-faith effort to improve the salaries of professional employees in this bargaining unit.

The University and UMPSA both recognized well over 10 years ago that salary equity problems existed within the unit. Another salary study was begun in 1990 with high hopes for a speedy resolution of the salary equity issue. However, due in part to the Maine economic downturn of the early 1990s, the salary study dragged on eroding those hopes and continuing to lower morale among unit members.

Because of the ongoing salary study, there was little interest on the part of University administrators to address individual salary equity issues or to grant more than minimum cost of living increases to members of this unit.

This inaction has caused the University to lose its competitive position in the marketplace with the result that it is now almost impossible to find qualified individuals to fill professional positions throughout the University System.

Experienced, highly qualified unit members are increasingly accepting positions outside of the University System when offered competitive salaries and benefits elsewhere.

Searches often fail to find candidates willing to accept a position within the University System due to the inadequate salaries that are being offered.

Vacant positions continue to place additional burdens on other professionals.

Offering salaries to new hires that are competitive in today’s market without addressing the salaries of current employees would aggravate existing salary inequities and continue to lower morale among professional employees.

This situation cannot continue.

The University must strive to be competitive in the marketplace in order to continue to improve the quality of the University System and to attract highly qualified students and retain highly qualified and experienced employees.

The professionals in the UMPSA bargaining unit have indicated that they have no desire to spend another decade in a futile effort to improve the salary situation. The time for action is now. The time to give the University of Maine System a competitive edge is now.

Let's work together during this round of collective bargaining to finally begin to correct salary inequities. Paying professional employees what they are worth will begin to raise morale among unit members and make the University of Maine System more competitive in the marketplace.