After more than five weeks of deliberation, University Hall and Facilities Management workers agreed on a new five-year contract Wednesday. The contract enjoyed "overwhelming" support from both sides of the table, Karen McAninch '74, the workers' representative and business agent for the United Service and Allied Workers, wrote in an email to The Herald.
Support from the Student Labor Alliance, which presented a petition of more than 600 signatures to the University during the final stages of negotiations, was an "important factor" in finalizing "key money issues," she wrote.
Under the new contract, Facilities Management workers will receive a 2.25 percent wage increase per year for the next five years. Health care costs will not increase for four years for any employees, but higher-level employees, such as lead custodians and tradespeople, will face a 2 percent increase for health care costs beginning Jan. 1, 2016.
The contract includes language that allows the University to change health care providers offered to employees as long as benefits are "substantially comparable." The contract is the last of the University's four labor contracts with unionized staff members to pass with this language. Consequently, the University can now change health plans for all unionized staff members — not just Facilities Management workers.
The University clarified in the final days of negotiations that, if it limited employees from two providers to one, the single provider would have "benefits and provider networks equivalent to those of the eliminated provider," so employees would not have to change doctors, McAninch wrote.
As the University expands beyond College Hill, it has promised a "good-faith effort" in staffing off-campus buildings fully used by the University with Facilities Management workers. Such buildings include the new Medical Education Building at 222 Richmond St. and 200 Dyer St., which will be staffed by Facilities Management workers when it comes to be fully occupied by the University in December.
University Hall is "pleased" with the negotiation process and its outcome, wrote Marisa Quinn, vice president for public affairs and University relations, in an email to The Herald.
"We strive to remain an employer of choice, offering competitive wages and benefits — particularly during these economically challenging times," she wrote.
Other changes in the contract include a 0.75 percent increase in pension benefits and a 0.5 percent increase in the shift differential for the overnight shift. The bereavement period for the death of an immediate family member changed from five calendar days to five working days.
The Student Labor Alliance campaigned in support of workers throughout the negotiations process, distributing fliers and posters for students to hang on their doors in support of workers and asking students to sign a petition. Their efforts culminated in a presentation of 400 written signatures and 200 online signatures to the University Monday.
"The school is happy," said Andres Villada '13.5, a member of SLA. "The workers are very happy. Everybody walks away feeling like they got something out of it."
The contract will remain in effect until Oct. 12, 2016.
