UVM staff unions agree to terms of first contract

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont and the institution’s two newest employee bargaining units, represented by UVM Staff United (UVMSU), have agreed to the terms of their first contract, which will raise wages for all union members and will especially benefit the lowest paid employees.

Union members completed voting today in support of the proposed contract and the university’s Board of Trustees has unanimously expressed its support.

Under the terms of the new contract, UVM will:

“The full impact of the new agreement will be felt most by employees hardest hit by recent economic conditions,” said Jes Kraus, UVM’s chief human resources officer and lead negotiator.

“I’m glad we could reach an agreement that balances investing in our talented workforce with keeping costs affordable for students and their families,” said Kraus. “Our efforts to reach agreement were respectful and collegial throughout negotiations. We greatly appreciate the support we received from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.”

Salary increases stipulated in the contract will benefit the lowest-paid employees most dramatically. For instance, an employee earning $30,000 today will earn $39,000 under the new contract in the current fiscal year (a 30% increase). Compensation would increase another 3% in July 2022 to $40,170, and another 3% in July 2023 to $41,375—a 37.9% cumulative increase over the life of the three-year contract.

In terms of benefits, the contract provides a new paid parental leave benefit of 8 weeks and increases other leave benefits for some employees. UVM has also committed $250,000 per year for employees’ professional development.

In addition to offering competitive, market-based salaries, UVM provides a robust benefits package, including top-notch health insurance (with employee contributions scaled to income, so that lower-paid employees pay less for health insurance than higher-paid employees). The package also includes a contribution of 10% of annual salary to retirement for eligible employees who elect to participate, access to an award-winning employee wellness program, free UVM tuition for employees and their dependent family members, and university contributions to dental and long-term disability plans.

“Throughout the bargaining process, the university sought a fair and reasonable settlement of the contract with UVM Staff United,” said Vice President for Finance and Administration Richard Cate. “The contract reflects UVM’s dedication to providing competitive salary and benefits, and an excellent working environment for all employees, while at the same time reinforcing our commitment to students by providing a high-quality educational experience that is financially accessible and affordable.”

Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. UVM’s strengths align with the most pressing needs of our time: the health of our societies and the health of our environment. Our size—large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet intimate enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of study—allows us to pursue these interconnected issues through cross-disciplinary research and collaboration. Providing an unparalleled educational experience for our students, and ensuring their success, are at the core of what we do. As one of the nation’s first land grant universities, UVM advances Vermont and the broader society through the discovery and application of new knowledge.

UVM is derived from the Latin Universitas Viridis Montis (in English, University of the Green Mountains).