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Trustees okay new AFSCME contract

Dec. 21, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Acting at their Dec. 15 meeting, Western Michigan University trustees approved a new three-year labor agreement with Local 1668 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The trustees' vote on the contract made official the agreement approved Nov. 27 when AFSCME members voted to ratify the agreement by a three-to-one margin. The agreement will run through 2009.

Provisions of the new agreement call for no increases to base pay in the first year, but a $500 one-time bonus to be paid in January 2007. In 2008, a 1.5 percent lump-sum payment will go to all non-skilled trades employees, and a $.20-per-hour increase to base will be made to those in skilled trades positions. The final year of the contract calls for a 1.5 percent increase to base for all AFSCME employees.

The new contract also brought AFSCME under the same health care and tuition remission plans as other University employees.

AFSCME represents custodial, dining services, grounds and maintenance employees at the University. Local 1668 has 404 members.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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