AFSCME Local 1699, Ohio University agree on 2-year contract

By Jack Jeffery

Ohio University and members of Local 1699 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the union that represents about 710 maintenance and service workers at the Athens, Zanesville and Chillicothe campuses, have reached agreement on a two-year contract, effective Nov. 27, which will expire Feb. 1, 2005. Union members accepted the contract by a vote of 270-152.

The current contract doesn't expire until March 1, 2003, but both seized the opportunity to build upon the strong working relationship they enjoy and bargain on a new pact in a timely fashion.

"In these tight budget times, we saw the possibility to work together in a way that let us avoid last-minute negotiations," Ohio University Vice President for Administration Gary North said. "We were able to work out a contract that is to everyone's benefit. This achievement is the result of a mature contract and good relations developed between union officers and university staff over the last several years through the 'win-win' approach they have used to address and resolve disputes."

Charlie Adkins, president of Local 1699, said, "The two features of this contract that are most significant to me are the 'me-too' clause, which guarantees that AFSCME bargaining unit members receive a base wage increase equal to that of non-bargaining classified employees, and that health-care employee contributions will not increase after January 2003, which was part of the recent bargaining. The prescription drug plan remains the same, in terms of both premiums and benefits, and our employees are paying approximately half of what other campus employees pay."

Some aspects of the health-care plan include:

• AFSCME employees pay nothing for generic prescriptions, $5 for brand name prescription drugs and $15 for non-formulary prescriptions.
• Union employees will pay $402 annually for family health-care premiums.

Ohio University Director of Employee and Labor Relations Linda Lonsinger said, "For the university, it was important to build upon the constructive relationship we've developed with the union. This is an agreement that's good for employees and good for the university as a whole."

Jack Jeffery is a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing.