ECC board approves three-year contract with support staff union

The Community College District 509 Board of Trustees approved a new three-year contract agreement with the Support Staff of Elgin Community College Association at a Dec. 20 special meeting, completing negotiations that began in May. The two sides reached a tentative agreement Dec. 13. The union's members reviewed and ratified the agreement at meetings Dec. 18-19.

"We are pleased to have a new agreement with our support staff union," said Jeffrey Meyer, chairman of the board of trustees. "The board appreciates the hard work and dedication that went into this process, which resulted in a contract that is fair for both sides."

Under the terms of the agreement, 337 members of SSECCA will receive a $450 lump sum payment for fiscal year 2018, a 2-percent salary increase in fiscal year 2019, and a 2.75-percent increase in fiscal year 2020.

Other agreement details include a change in contribution payments for health and dental insurance. SSECCA members will take on a greater share of the expense of their own coverage. In the first year of the contract, they will continue to pay 13 percent of the cost for employee coverage; the second year, 14 percent; and the third year, 15 percent. In addition, the current 22 percent contribution rate for family coverage will increase to 23 percent in the second year and 24 percent in the third year.

Over the three-year contract period, the increase in compensation will cost the college a total of $1,008,089, an increase of 7.95 percent. The college's total budget for fiscal year 2018 is $121.6 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 on elgin.edu.