(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College trustees during their regular meeting Wednesday voted unanimously to uphold their final contract offer to a union representing BC3’s secretarial and clerical employees and rejected changes recommended by a fact finder appointed to evaluate a bargaining stalemate dating to February.
After receiving Marc A. Winters’ April 1 fact-finding report, BC3 trustees April 10 also voted unanimously to reject the same changes during a special public meeting held virtually and in compliance with a state Public Employee Relations Act requirement to inform within 10 days the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board and the union of their decision.
The Butler County Community College Education Support Professionals PSEA/NEA on April 10 accepted Winters’ recommended changes on behalf of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.
Winters supports college offers regarding personal leave, retirement incentives and classification of positions, but recommends BC3 increase those regarding base salaries, raises and starting salaries.
A fact finder’s recommendations can be accepted or rejected only in their entirety.
The BC3 Education Support Professionals has 46 employees covered by collective bargaining. Its voting membership comprises 26 full-time and six part-time workers. The college’s secretarial and clerical employees have been working under the terms of a previous contract’s addendum that expired June 30.
College and union negotiators have met 13 times since January 2023 and have tentatively agreed on approximately 17 issues. The most-recent meeting was Oct. 5, when BC3 trustees authorized a final three-year contract offer retroactive to July 1, which the union refused to accept Oct. 16.
The parties were unable to reach an agreement and an impasse was declared. The college and union proceeded to fact-finding based on a request by the union Feb. 5. The request was granted, and the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on Feb. 20 ordered fact-finding. Winters met with college and union negotiators during a hearing at BC3 on March 15.
The college’s proposed contract would expire June 30, 2026. Its expenses are included in operating fund deficits projected to total approximately $4.8 million from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026. BC3 projects operating budgets of $26.1 million, $26.9 million and $27.7 million in fiscal years ending in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
BC3 has experienced a credit enrollment decline of 37 percent since 2014. The decrease is similar to that of other community colleges in Pennsylvania. It also learned April 5 from its health insurance consortium that the college will face a 9 percent increase in insurance costs effective July 1, 2024. The college’s health insurance costs increased by 14 percent July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
The college’s offer is estimated to cost $415,615 over three years; the union’s proposal, $630,636 and Winters’ recommendations, $470,971. The college’s offer represents a 10.36 percent pay increase over three years for all employees; the union’s proposal, 18.48 percent and Winters’ recommendations, 13.38 percent.
The college’s offer features a first-year $500 increase to base salaries of full-time employees and a 25-cent per hour increase for part-time workers; 3 percent annual raises for all employees; and full-time starting salary increases to $36,542 in the first year, $37,273 in the second and $38,018 in the third.
The union seeks annual increases of $750, $500 and $250 to base salaries of full-time employees and prorated for part-time workers; 4, 4.75 and 4.75 percent annual raises for all employees; and full-time starting salary increases to $36,250 in the first year, $38,750 in the second and $40,300 in the third.
Winters recommends also adding a first-year $500 increase for part-time employees; annual raises of 4 percent for all workers; and full-time starting salary increases to $37,778, $39,289 and $40,861.
In an April 9 Pennsylvania State Education Association news release, Christin Morris, an elementary classroom paraprofessional and PSEA member, said: “Imagine being a parent, juggling multiple jobs, and trying to keep your kids on track with school and life.
“The talented men and women who work as school support staff taking care of our students throughout the school day deserve better. Paying them a living wage of at least $20 an hour will make a tremendous difference in their lives.”
The starting hourly rate for full-time secretarial and clerical employees authorized by BC3 trustees and retroactive to July 1, 2023, is $20.30 for a 37.5-hour workweek, higher than that paid by eight Pennsylvania community colleges and by seven Butler County school districts that responded to a query.
BC3 trustees in October authorized the addition of three personal days for part-time employees. The union is seeking two. Winters recommends the college’s offer.
The college is offering retirement incentive options that include a four-day workweek with a 20 percent pay reduction and full benefits, or a one-time $8,000 payment. The union is seeking a one-time $12,500 payment. Winters recommends the college’s offer.
Winters also recommends the college’s offer regarding the part-time classification of secretarial positions.
