ECC bumps up pay for its non-union employees

Elgin Community College trustees have approved across-the-board 5.5 percent pay raises for non-union employees.

The increase applies to about 125 employees, including clerical staff, technical employees, supervisors and administrators.

The raises will cost about $560,000 this year, ECC Director of Human Resources Anthony Spahr estimated.

"We wanted to recommend something that was consistent with what union groups had received," Spahr said.

The union representing about 400 ECC instructors signed a new employment deal this spring. Between guaranteed raises for all instructors and raises based on experience and education, a typical ECC instructor received a 5.5 percent pay bump this year, Spahr said.

Last year, ECC hired a consultant to conduct a compensation study, which was used to help determine the 2008 salary adjustments for non-union employees.

The compensation study explored the relative value of different positions not covered by collective bargaining. To rank the positions, the study considered multiple variables, including market demand.

The information was then used to set salary ranges and develop minimum salaries for each non-union position.

Non-union employees will receive the 5.5 percent raise, or whatever raise is required to bring an employee's salary above the new minimum threshold, Spahr said.

Trustees also approved a $300 increase in the annual allotment ECC provides non-union employees for professional development activities.

And for the first time, non-union employees can be reimbursed for expenses associated with conferences and workshops, rather than just for course work.