ATHENS,
Ohio -- (March 1, 2000) Members of Local 1699 of the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents about 680
maintenance and service workers at Ohio University, voted 362 to 232 to
approve a three-year contract with the university, effective March 2.
"It's an agreement both the university and union can work with," said
Charlie Adkins, president of Local 1699. "It benefits both the university
and the union.
Provisions in the contract agreement include:
- A 10 percent wage increase over the three-year contract.
- An $800 one-time bonus to encourage employees to join or maintain their coverage under the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Health Plan.
- An increase in shift differential for employees working second and third shift.
- Three personal days annually for employees who have at least 15 days of sick time accrued.
- Expanded meal benefits for Food Service employees.
"I'm delighted we could continue the negotiating process and reach a
contract," said Vice President for Administration Gary North. "Federal
mediator Bill Lewis was very instrumental in getting the two teams together
and getting them to focus on issues employees had raised."
Union members, working on a contract that expired at midnight March 1, on
Monday had voted 272 to 232 to reject a previous tentative agreement.
Representatives from the union and the university continued negotiations
up until the 7 p.m. vote Wednesday, modifying the contract agreement to
include birth control on the AFSCME drug prescription plan, a modified
apprenticeship program that includes more departments and increased pay for
employees working weekends.
