ECC board approves three-year contract with building engineers

The Elgin Community College District 509 Board of Trustees approved a new three-year contract agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers at its July 12 meeting, completing negotiations that began in June.

The union's members reviewed and ratified the agreement at meetings held on July 7. The two sides reached a tentative agreement on June 21.

"We are pleased to have a new contract with our building engineers," says Jeffrey A. Meyer, JD, chair of the board of trustees. "Both teams worked hard to gain consensus on an agreement that is both fair and reasonable. It aligns with the college's efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility and sustainability. We thank the IBEW for the pragmatic and professional manner in which they engaged in negotiations with the board."

Under the terms of the agreement, the approximately 11 members of IBEW will receive no increases in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and a 2-percent increase in fiscal year 2020.

Other agreement details include no change in payments for health and dental insurance in fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and a 1-percent increase in fiscal year 2020. In the first and second years of the contract for individual coverage, IBEW members will pay 13 percent of the cost and the third year, they will pay 14 percent of the cost. In the first and second years of the contract for dependent coverage, they will pay 22 percent of the cost, and the third year 23 percent of the cost.

Over the three-year contract period, the increase in compensation will cost the college a total of $18,000. The college's total operating budget for fiscal year 2018 is $74.5 million.

The new contract will expire June 30, 2020.

In keeping with Elgin Community College's dedication to providing access to key information, the complete agreement will be made public and available at elgin.edu.