Board of Trustees approves contract

By Fritz Klug
News Editor

Western Michigan University’s chapter of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) got a three-year contract approved Wednesday, Dec. 9 during a special conference call meeting of WMU’s Board of Trustees.

The agreement includes adopting the same Blue Cross/Blue Shield health care plan as offered to other University employees, including those who are a part of the American Association of University Professors and not represented by a union.

The plan includes more coverage for mental health and changes in co-pay, Umar Abdu-Mutakallim, director of Staff Labor Relations, said after the agreement was approved.

Also adopted was an agreement that WMU’s closure policy will apply to AFSCME employees. If they work as part of an essential service, they will be paid time-and-a-half. This includes some services like Dining Services and the custodial staff.

The last piece of the agreement was a three-year wage package, giving members across the board a 2 percent raise in 2010, and a 1 percent raise in both 2011 and 2012.
The agreement was reached between the bargaining units on Nov. 4 and was ratified by the local union on Nov. 18.

“[The agreement] sends the message that there is a degree of stability at Western Michigan University,” Abdu-Mutakallim said.  “We tried to give them the same raise as any other employee.”

Also approved at the meeting were the sabbaticals of 35 faculty members for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Trustee James Hettinger was the only trustee in attendance, while Chair Kenneth Miller, Vice-chair Larry Tolbert and trustee Denis Archer joined the conference call.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=13159

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Dec 9 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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