Goddard College’s staff union voted this week to end a nearly monthlong strike, union leaders said, after reaching a deal that included wage increases and more time off.
The union, which includes roughly 30 non-faculty employees across the college, in maintenance, admissions and custodial positions, among others — voted Wednesday to end the 28-day strike. Most employees will return to work Friday.
“I am incredibly proud and energized by how much progress has been made toward a just and thriving Goddard College through the efforts and organizing of the Goddard College Staff Union membership along with the students, faculty, and community members supporting us,” Trevor Utton, co-chair of of the Goddard College Staff Union, said in a Wednesday evening press release.
Staff members at the Plainfield college had been without a contract since the summer. Last month, union leaders said negotiations for a new contract had broken down.
At the time, the union accused the college’s administration of withholding pay raises. Meanwhile, the college’s president, Dan Hocoy, said the union would not accept a management rights clause to enumerate administrators’ powers — a provision he described as common in contracts around the country.
Ultimately, though, the union appears to have prevailed on that front. The final agreement does not include a management rights contract. It does, however, include “a real increase” in wages for union members making less than $20 an hour and more time off for union members, according to the union.
Union members plan to conduct a final vote on the agreement in the coming days, according to the press release.
“Throughout this process, all the support we’ve received — from students and faculty, former staff, alumni, folks in the community — has really brought out how much Goddard College means to so many people,” said Patrick Burke, president of the union. “And you know, one of the things that we’re really excited to do now is to really spread the message about how great Goddard College is and really investing in renewing it.”
The agreement will last one year, according to Hocoy. Asked in an interview about the stalemate over the management rights clause, Hocoy again said that such language is a common feature of contracts. But “we were willing to forgo that management rights clause to have an interim agreement,” he said.
“I’m very glad to have the strike end,” Hocoy said. “It was obviously stressful for everyone. And for me personally, it was difficult to see our community split like that.”
