SOUTH HADLEY — Unions representing staff employees at Mount Holyoke College expect members to vote to ratify a new contract within the next two weeks after the two sides agreed to a tentative deal late last week.
The Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) said the deal reached on Friday “meets all of the union’s demands.” According to union leaders, the agreement substantially increases compensation over the course of the three-year contract and provides access to a legal fund for civil cases.
The agreement came two days after 200 Mount Holyoke campus staff went on strike for 24 hours, demanding a living wage.
“The College is deeply pleased with the work accomplished by these bargaining committees to come to mutually beneficial agreements,” Mount Holyoke spokesperson Christian Feuerstein said in a statement.
The 170 dining and facility workers represented by 32BJ will see a minimum 11% pay increase over the life of the contract, or $1 per hour in each of the next three years. The 80 lowest paid employees, however, will collect significantly higher increases, immediately receiving a $3 per hour pay raise in the first year. Members will also see additional compensation based on years of employment at the college.
“This was a very meaningful settlement for the workers,” said Kevin Brown, executive vice president of 32BJ SEIU. “When we were announcing the agreement, they were overwhelmed with joy. I’d like to thank Mount Holyoke College President [Danielle] Holley for working with us and picking everyone up, especially those at the lower end of the pay scale.”
The union also sought access to a fund to provide legal consultation for civil matters at no cost to employees. Brown explained that union members can use the fund for legal matters like martial disputes, housing concerns and immigration. The latter was a key concern for many members.
“Many members have been living in the U.S. for years, if not decades, and working legally. Now they may be stripped of that right,” Brown said.
The fund will ensure the protection to the 35% of staff members with varying immigration statuses.
Another 25 housekeepers at Mount Holyoke represented by United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2322 are in line for raises that will bring them just shy of the living wage computed by MIT Living Wage Calculator, said spokesperson Patrick Burke. Like the members of 32BJ, housekeepers will see wages increase based on longevity.
“Our bargaining committee was really happy across the board,” Burke said.
The committee also preserved the housekeeper’s role as nonessential employees by maintaining that employees are not required to shovel snow.
“Our members are the ones that do the work to allow these colleges and institutions to flourish,” Burke said. “It was really clear leading up to and during the strike how much recognition there was from the MHC community. That wasn’t something that could be ignored.”