KC and teacher's union ratify contract

CENTRALIA — The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting Friday to ratify the contract with the Federation of Teachers.

Bill Hawley, Chairman, KC Board of Trustees (L) and Ken Ingersoll, Vice President of the Kaskaskia College Federation of Teachers (R) signing a new three year collective bargaining agreement.

The agreement calls for a 2 1/2-percent increase on faculty base salaries the first year and 2-percent each of the succeeding two years plus step increases.

In addition, by working together the faculty and administration identified savings that will allow for the college to maintain its current insurance coverage. While the plan will have a higher deductible, it will be offset with a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) arrangement.

KC Interim President George Evans praised the faculty union and their representatives in working with the college to reach this new agreement.

Originally trustees were set to vote to ratify the tentative agreement at a special meeting on June 5; however, an emergency meeting was called for June 1 to ratify the agreement prior to the states’ new budget going into effect. This was due to provisions in the budget bill that could have a significant impact on certain provisions agreed on by the college and faculty.