Grants & Contracts Technology Manager
USM Catherine Cutler Institute
Years of Service: 18
As your new Statewide President, I am excited to launch our brand-new monthly newsletter, which will be sent to all members. Each issue will feature a leadership message, member spotlights, UMPSA in action, membership updates, and much more. This inaugural edition is brought to you by our Communications Committee, capably led by Ariel Cassista (UMA member).
When I began my term as Statewide President, I couldn’t have predicted the pace, but this Fall semester has truly flown by! It is a clear reflection of just how exceptionally busy UMPSA (Universities of Maine Professional Staff Association) has been. We are working diligently on behalf of our members, dedicated to ensuring the professional staff voice and our collective bargaining agreement remain strong throughout the University of Maine System.
Our fall was defined by high activity and robust engagement:
- We hosted five statewide webinars, keeping members informed across all campuses.
- The Communications, Membership, and Contract Language Committees have consistently met and advanced key projects.
- We welcomed new employees to the bargaining unit through four UMPSA orientations
- We are also proud to now have a dedicated campus/grievance representative at each campus, strengthening local support.
In addition, a major priority this Fall has been vital negotiations aimed at improving working conditions and benefits for all professional staff. A significant amount of time has been spent negotiating the implementation and terms of Paid Maine Family Leave (PMFL) and Short-term Disability benefits. I can’t share too much here because we are still in the process of actively negotiating this with our coalition partners-ACSUM and AFUM.