Penn State University avoids union strike | Centre County Gazette

UNIVERSITY PARK – The Teamsters Local 8 union and Penn State University reached a tentative agreement late Friday night, June 28, to avoid a union strike.

The union representing 2,500 technical service employees at Pennsylvania State University has negotiated a contract that takes into account the impact of inflation and salary differences resulting in part from the previous contract and the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the first meeting, the Teamsters Local 8 union proposed a 36% wage increase over three years, with additional market adjustments of up to 50% for all workers, cost-of-living adjustments, higher shift premiums, standby and hiring fees, and a $3,000 ratification bonus.

Negotiations began on Thursday, May 2, and 11 meetings between union representatives and the university were held through Friday, June 28. During an online voting period between Tuesday, June 25, and Wednesday, June 26, the Teamsters Local 8 Union voted 1,878 to 175 to strike against Penn State University.

Although the union authorized the strike, the university was given until Sunday, June 30, the day the contracts expired, to reach an agreement. In a statement on Friday, June 28, the university said it was confident it could reach a fair agreement with the union.

“We are pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the university on a 4-year contract,” the bargaining committee said on the union’s Facebook page. “This endeavor was only possible because nearly 1,900 members authorized strike action and showed the university that we are ready.”

The post announced that the new deal includes “a 20% wage increase – 21.79% cumulative – over the life of the contract” and that “further details will be announced during the upcoming ratification meetings.” The negotiating committee noted that there would be no strikes or work stoppages.

“I am pleased that we have successfully concluded our negotiations and reached a tentative agreement with union leadership. In doing so, we continue the tradition of negotiating in good faith and reaching mutually acceptable agreements with Teamsters Local 8,” said Jennifer Wilkes, vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer, in a statement issued by the university on Friday, June 28. “We greatly value our technical services employees and this contract recognizes their important contributions to Penn State and the essential work they do every day to enable us to fulfill our teaching, research and service mission.”

The union is now expected to vote on ratifying the agreement in the coming weeks. Once ratified, the terms of the agreement will take effect retroactively to Monday, July 1, and will last for four years, until June 30, 2028. Once the contract is ratified, further details on the terms of the agreement will be released.

“We are very grateful to have reached a tentative agreement with the university,” Local 8 President Jonathan Light said in a statement. “Local 8 and our members pride themselves on providing exceptional service to the university community and look forward to continuing to do so for the next four years. This agreement recognizes our members’ hard work and dedication to the university and the university’s commitment to our members.”