NEWS

Terra, support staff union agree on contract

Daniel Carson
Reporter

FREMONT- Terra State Community College's support staff workers will be getting a pay increase, after the college and OAPSE/AFSCME officials agreed on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.

Terra's board of trustees approved the new agreement Wednesday.

President Jerome Webster said he wanted to emphasize how smoothly the collaboration went between Terra and union officials. Webster said the two sides met five times before coming to terms on the new agreement.

"That was a pretty quick agreement," Webster said.

Under the new agreement, which runs from July 2016 through June 2019, full-time union workers will get a $150 base pay increase their first year. That amount will be pro-rated for part-time workers.

In the agreement's second and third year, union members will receive 1.5 percent wage increases each year.

Webster said OAPSE/AFSCME represents about 40 employees at Terra State. He said those employees include personnel in the college's academic office, student services and custodial and maintenance workers.

Negotiations between the college and the unions started in May.

In a release, OAPSE/AFSCME local President Kim Maxwell said she was appreciative to the union members for their dedication and service to the college. She said the contract demonstrated the union members' commitment to the college.

Jerome Webster, president of Terra State Community College, said the college plans to build a 206-bed facility that would house 200 students and six staff members.

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