WCC Contract 'Does Well By Both Parties'

Salary increases averaging 12.6 per cent over the next two years will be provided for Washtenaw Community College instructors in a new master contract which the WCC trustees ratified Friday night. WCC Board Chairman Anthony J. Procassini said after the unanimous vote that both bargaining teams "negotiated hard and in good faith; the contract does well by both parties." The WCC Education Association's chief negotiator, Shirley Roberts, said "the Association is looking forward to a productive year." Association members ratified the new contract Thursday. WCC's new president, Gunder A. Myran, attended last night's meeting but did not comment on the new contract. Agreement on its terms was reached Aug.31, tne üajíjjefore Myran fórmally took office. The contract runs from Sept. 1. Salary increases for the WCCEA's 139 members will range from 12 per cent for those at entry levéis up to 17.6 per cent for some, as The News reported Friday. Most instructors, WCC Personnel Manager Harry J. Konschuh noted, are at pay levéis slated for salary increases slightly above 8 per cent the first year and about two per cent the second year. Overall, he added, the average increase for individual instructors will be $1,625 or 8.7 per cent the first year, $785 or 3.9 per cent the second year. Increased costs to the college for instrüctional salaries will be $217,740 the first year, $246,391 the second year. The , new contract also provides that the college is to pay dental insurance for instructors and dependents beginning by Dec. 1 at an estimated cost of $35,810 yearly. Severai new contract ciauses are aescribed by Konschuh and Administrative Dean David S. Pollock - who served as WCC's interim president during negotiations - as providing the college with valuable increases in flexibility for scheduling and employment. These changes include: - Redefining part-time instructors, who are not WCCEA members, as those teaching a course with eight contact hours instead of 7V2 contact hours; - An increase from 3 to 4 in the number óf night classes that can be assigned weekly during one semester to a fulltime instructor; . - The probationary period for newly hired full-time instructors has been increased from 15 to 37 weeks; - The reservation of 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month for WCCEA meetings, a half-hour reduction which will permit scheduling another class on Thursday and also Tuesdáy afternoon. Other contract changes, previously reported, include establishing a more formal status for WCC's Curriculum Committee, with a stipulation it is authorized to report to the president and deans; and provisión for instructors and dependents to take WCC courses tuitionfree when there is no conflict with job obligations. On Sept. 19, three full-time and six 'part-time employés at the child day-care center WCC operates for its students are scheduled to vote whether to unionize by affiliating with the unit of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employés which represents WCC clerical workers. gm