Classified Workers Deal In Reach

Union to vote on new contract

The MHCC administration and the college’s Classified Employees Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract, both sides have confirmed.

The pending agreement reached on March 5, to be voted on by CEA members by March 17, would replace the previous five-year contract that expired last June 30.

Mt. Hood’s District Board has scheduled an executive session prior to its regularly scheduled meeting on March 19 to address the negotiations that have become contentious in recent months, including picketing by CEA members.

Corey Huston, MHCC science lab coordinator and member of the CEA bargaining team, said in a March 6 email that “We now will be presenting the contract in full to our colleagues over the next week and our members will vote on if they approve.”

While other aspects of the contract contributed to mediated sessions and formal declaration of an negotiating impasse, the standoff largely centered on proposed wage and cost-of-living increases for employees.

The two sides clashed over the financial state of Mt. Hood and its ability to increase wages for CEA workers.

Huston recently told the student body government (Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College) in a special meeting that the financial position of the college was “outstanding,” citing a healthy reserve fund.

Photo by Leo Fontneau

Ross Hume, who represented MHCC during negotiations, responded in a statement, “The College recently shared the budget outlook and if current trends persist the College faces a significant budget deficit that will deplete reserves.” (See prior Advocate online coverage: https://www.advocate-online.net)

Huston, speaking for himself, previously said the “strong financial position” of MHCC owed in part to “not paying market wages to some of our employees, making it difficult to fill positions and retain employees.”

Photo by Leo Fontneau

He added that potential funding challenges to Mt. Hood’s broad core mission to serve its community are “not because we need to pay the people doing this work appropriately.” Hume told The Advocate that the college “has offered solid wage increases, eliminated the lowest ranges on the salary schedule, and increased the ranges of several classifications within the bargaining unit.”

Now, CEA members will decide if the proposed new contract meets their most pressing needs, or falls short.