Duke And Union Reach Agreement
The three-year agreement establishes a beginning pay rate of no less than $10 per hour for employees represented by Local 77
Duke University and the local bargaining unit for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have reached agreement on a new three-year contract covering about 900 service employees in housekeeping, campus dining, grounds and animal care.
The agreement, reached Thursday and ratified later that day by members of Local 77 of AFSCME, provides wage hikes of 2.5 percent in each of the three years of the contract. It also establishes a beginning pay rate of no less than $10 per hour for employees represented by Local 77. The $10 per hour beginning pay rate, which was announced by Duke for non-union employees earlier this year, takes effect July 1, and will mean a pay increase for about 300 current employees represented by Local 77. The contract also stipulates mutually agreed upon standards for attendance and professional development planning for all employees.
The agreement was reached after 26 negotiating sessions that began May 16. The contract replaces the previous three-year contract, which expired at midnight Thursday.
"Both sides thoughtfully considered and reviewed multiple proposals," said Paul Grantham, communications director for Duke's Human Resources office. "Negotiations went well, and we are pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that addresses issues important to employees represented by Local 77 and the university."