Board approves contract

Faculty can now breathe a sigh of relief after their new contract was finalized last night
The Board of Trustees approved a contract between the faculty association and the college in a closed session meeting last night. All present trustees approved the plan, which applies to all 65 full-time faculty members, a college press release said. 
Chairman of the Board Bill Bacarella commended the unity on the negotiations.
“Everyone’s happy and on board—happy to get back to work,” he said.
The press release also said the college and the faculty agreed to the following economic conditions:
 -A 1 percent increase on the salary schedule each year of the three-year contract.
  -A $500 signing bonus in the first year of the contract for each faculty member employed as of ratification by the Board and MCCFA.
 -For faculty members hired after Aug. 24, 2014 who elect to participate in the optional retirement program, the college will contribute 12 percent of gross pay to each member’s retirement plan, and the faculty member will contribute 4 percent of gross pay.
 -Effective Sept. 1, 2013, the faculty began participating in new health insurance plans with benefits that are consistent with caps required under new state law, and, as a result, save the college significant costs for health insurance while still providing the faculty with coverage they desire.
The two parties have been negotiating on a contract since the winter semester. Last week, the college and Faculty Association reached a tentative agreement Friday, and the details were presented to the faculty Tuesday of last week.