KSU trustees approve labor pact; union members continue to vote on wages and other issues

July 27--Kent State University trustees approved a fact-finder report that would give nearly 400 employees on the Kent campus a 2 percent wage increase in the first year of a labor agreement and 1.5 percent increase in the pact's second year.

The 2 percent increase would be retroactive to Oct. 1, 2017, when the last contract expired, and the 1.5 percent hike would go into effect Oct. 1 of this year.

Members of the Kent State University Employees Local 153, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) are continuing to vote Friday afternoon on whether to accept the fact-finder's recommendations for a new contract. Results of the union voting will not be available until after 6 p.m.

The union represents skilled trades, food service and housekeeping personnel, as well as other workers.

The board's approval means KSU officials can enter into a two-year labor agreement with the union -- if union members also approve the report.

The new contract would expire Sept. 30. 2019.

The two sides began negotiations on a new agreement sometime before the old labor pact expired Sept. 30 last year.

Each side agreed to take unresolved issues to an independent fact-finder, who issued the report that trustees approved Friday morning.

The report's recommendations include the introduction of a new health insurance plan -- a PPO (preferred provider organization). An existing PPO plan would no longer be offered as an option beginning January 2020.

A high deductible plan that includes a health-savings account would continue.

This is not the first time the parties have taken issues to a fact-finder after failing to negotiate a new contract.

Under the new contract, employees would receive a $250 bonus this year and a $200 bonus next year.

In 2015, the sides reached an impasse and the State Employment Relations Board arranged for a fact-finder to weigh in on dueling demands.

Katie Byard can be reached at at 330-996-3781 or [email protected].

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