ECC board OKs 3-year contract with building engineers

The Elgin Community College Board recently approved a three-year contract for building engineers with no pay increases for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

The 11 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers receive a 2 percent pay hike in fiscal year 2020.

Negotiations began in June. Union members reviewed and ratified the agreement before the college board approved it July 12.

"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," said Jeffrey Meyer, ECC board chair.

According to the agreement, there will be no change in payments for health and dental insurance in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and a 1 percent increase in fiscal year 2020. Union members will pay 13 percent of the cost for individual coverage in the first and second years of the contract, and 14 percent in year three.

For dependent coverage, employees will pay 22 percent of the cost in the first and second years of the contract and 23 percent in year three.

Over the three-year contract, these increases will cost ECC $18,000 - out of a total operating budget of $74.5 million for fiscal year 2018.

The contract expires June 30, 2020. The full agreement is available at elgin.edu.

ECC also is negotiating contracts with its support staff and police unions. The support staff contract expired June 30, while this is the first contract for 14 police officers who voted last December to form a union.