UMS leader faces protesters at USM

PORTLAND – University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal visited Portland’s campus to talk about the system’s strategic plan, but he got an earful from campus employees who are unhappy with the way contract talks are going.

More than 100 employees representing clerical workers, professional staff and faculty staged a protest march during Westphal’s visit Friday. They said the university’s offer of minimal raises with higher health insurance costs will result in pay cuts. Negotiations have been going on for more than a year.

“I understand how they feel, I know what their concerns are, and we need to do something to address them,” Westphal said. “I don’t have a ready solution today, but I’m ready to sit down with them in the near future.”

The chancellor also noted that the system is facing a $15 million deficit.

The University of Southern Maine campus forums came after an ambitious restructuring plan that would have merged UMaine at Augusta into USM was dropped. Westphal and members of the UMaine System board were criticized for not consulting the public during the planning process.

The chancellor’s visits to other campuses have been less contentious. In Fort Kent, he heard proposals for programs in French language and culture.

During his USM forum, Westphal said he has asked the Legislature to contribute $5 million to bridge the $15 million budget gap.

He said that per-student state funding for the university system has declined sharply during the past several years.

He showed the audience a chart that said tuition now covers as much of the cost of educating a student as state funding does.

Ron Mosley, president of the Associated Faculties of the University of Maine, said the protesting workers will be attending the next board of trustees meeting March 19-20 in Presque Isle.