Trustees approve union agreements
Oct. 31, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Acting via conference call at its Oct. 31 meeting, the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees approved a three-year labor agreement with Local 1668 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and authorized changes to a reopened contract with the University's Police Officer Association.
The vote on the AFSCME contract made official the agreement approved Oct. 21 by a three-to-one margin during an AFSCME union membership vote. Provisions of the agreement, effective Aug. 12, 2003, through August 12, 2006, include administrative improvements to layoff procedures and changes in the dates of approved holidays. The economic package includes agreement that all AFSCME bargaining unit members will participate in the University's new PPO medical plan, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Wage provisions include a 2 percent across-the-board increase in January 2004, a 3 percent increase in January 2005 and a 2.5 percent increase in July 2005.
AFSCME represents custodial, dining services, grounds and maintenance employees at the University.
The three-year Police Officers Association contract approved by the board in September 2002 contained a provision that health care and compensation issues would be readdressed after the first year. The changes approved Oct. 31 by the Board of Trustees include agreement that all POA bargaining unit members will participate in the University's new PPO medical plan, effective Jan. 1, 2004; a 2 percent across-the-board compensation increase in January 2004; and a 3 percent increase in January 2005. Also included in the agreement is a return to the 10-hour shift schedule implemented on a trial basis during the winter and spring of 2003. The reopened segments of the contract were approved Oct. 26 by a two-to-one margin during a vote by POA membership.
The POA represents detectives and officers in the WMU Department of Public Safety.
Media contact: Matt Kurz, 269 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu