Respect — And $2.15
The First Year
At Kenyon College
GAMBIER, Ohio
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Local 712 members
commemorate their history-making new contract with a formal pose.
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A sizeable wage increase, the absence of a management attorney
and a healthy dose of respect for the union made negotiations this year
between UE Local 712 and Kenyon College something to remember.
"I’ve been here 15 years, and this is the best contract
I’ve seen," says Local 712 Pres. Bob Smith.
This is only the second UE contract. Before UE, Smith says,
"pretty much we didn’t feel like we did any bargaining. They told us
what they wanted to give us — and they didn’t give much. Our
representation before we were in UE allowed it to go on, they didn’t give us
much guidance."
Three years ago, the Kenyon administration and its attorney
got an introduction to a different style of bargaining. UE rejected the
attorney’s proposed information blackout and bargaining rules. Eventually
the maintenance workers who comprise Local 712 unanimously rejected the
college’s final offer.
"We really stood up to them and said, ‘we’re not
going to take what you’re offering,’" Smith says. "We stood up
for what we wanted and what we believed in."
Although UE members were willing to work while bargaining
continued, they were locked out for 49 days. "Though the contract was not
all that great, the one thing we got was respect," comments Local Vice
Pres. Randy Justice.
The respect carried over to the 2000 negotiations. For one
thing, the college opted to drop the attorney who clashed repeatedly with
union negotiators three years ago. "They realized they had made a big
mistake," says Justice. "They wanted to mend fences, too."
During the weeks of bargaining, and sometimes tough subjects,
neither side raised voices. "Not one blow-up — I thought that was
really unusual," Justice says. He adds: "The biggest reason we got
this great — not good, great — contract is that we earned respect from our
employer."
WAGES GO UP, UP, UP
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‘UE
really sticks by the working man. I’ve been in other unions, and this
is the only time I’ve ever been in a union where they really have my
best interests at heart. I can say that unequivocally.’
—
Local 712 Vice Pres.
Randy Justice |
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In the first year of the contract, Local 712 members will
receive a 5 percent wage increase; 80 percent of them get a $1.25 wage
adjustment. That’s a $2.15 increase for most union members.
In both the second and third years, Kenyon maintenance workers
will receive a 4 percent increase.
The sick leave bank is expanded from 130 to 200 days. The
payout of accumulated sick days at retirement is increased from 30 to 200
days.
Truck pay increases each year of the agreement, for a daily
allowance of $9.95 for use of employee vehicles on the job. For the first time
employees using their trucks will get a gas supplement.
INSURED
Local 712 prevailed in a hotly disputed area of negotiations:
employee contributions will remain at the same levels and not increase. For
the first time, Kenyon maintenance workers gain dental coverage.
The employer payment will now contribute 9 percent of wages
into the retirement plan (TIAA/CREFF); if anyone else on campus receives a
pension increase, Local 712 members will gain the same amount.
The birthday holiday will now be moveable; vacations can be
taken in four-hour increments. Bereavement leave is expanded to five days for
parent, step-parents and step-children; brother-in-law and sister-in-law are
added to those covered by three days of leave.
The employer will pay $30 per pair of pants needed for work.
Employees now have "hazard pay" at time and one half for working, or
coming to work, during a Level II weather emergency.
The Local 712 committee consisted of Pres. Bob Smith, Vice
Pres. Randy Justice and Rec. Sec. Brad Merriam. They were assisted by Intl.
Rep. Dennis Painter.
UE News - 08/00
