Six Former Employees at Maine College Claim Age Discrimination

Six former employees of the University of Southern Maine who lost their jobs in a consolidation move are claiming they were discriminated against because of their ages.

The former employees, between the ages of 55 and 65, had worked in student support services. The university announced in July it would consolidate three offices into one.

The goal was to provide better, more comprehensive counseling services as a way to boost the number of freshmen who return. The six were told they could apply for 19 positions.

The attorney for the six, Chad Hansen, tells the Portland Press Herald the former employees felt they were passed over for younger people.

USM officials say the hiring process was fair and open.