Food Systems Professional UMaine Cooperative Extension
UMPSA Statewide Interim Vice President
UMPSA member since 2021
Hello. My name is Kate McCarty, and I am excited to connect with you all. I work as a Food Systems Professional with the UMaine Cooperative Extension at the Falmouth location, and I have proudly served our university community for 16 years.
My commitment to worker solidarity began early in my career, rooted in the firm belief that standing together is the single most effective way to secure better working conditions. While I initially joined our union simply to lend financial support, my involvement deepened significantly during the Covid pandemic. Through my role on the Extension Professionals Committee, I heard firsthand that morale was low across the system. I felt compelled to step up, advocate for my peers, and play a more active role in our collective representation.
Today, I am proud to serve as your Statewide Interim Vice President, a member of the Employee Health Plan Task Force, and a dedicated UMPSA member. My decision to accept the Interim VP appointment stemmed from an incredibly inspiring experience collaborating with our executive board during the last round of contract negotiations. In this new chapter, I am eager to partner with and support our Statewide President, Sara Abronze, as we lead our union forward. Looking ahead, my primary focus is on our upcoming contract and healthcare negotiations, and I am fully committed to driving the meaningful progress we need to elevate our working conditions.