After months of negotiations, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new faculty and librarian contract Tuesday, marking a significant step toward improved pay, benefits, and working conditions.

“I’d like to thank the faculty and board team for the many hours we have invested in reaching an agreement,” said Peggy Heinrich, ECC’s president.

Board chair Jennifer Rakow echoed Heinrich’s opening remarks. Rakow thanked ECCFA members for their consistent respect and patience. 

“I commend both teams for the respectful, professional, and productive discussions,” she said. 

The board met at 6:30 p.m. in Siegle Auditorium with about 40 individuals present.

“I feel relieved,” said Dan Kernler, ECCFA’s president. “They are going to approve the contracts.”

Since Dec. 31, faculty and librarians had been without an updated contract. Both parties were unable to come to an agreement in January, forcing them into mediation. Following mediation, ECCFA members ratified the new contract on Feb. 28.

The new contract becomes finalized after months of negotiations, demonstrations, picketing, and advocating. 

“I didn’t see a path before, but then the clouds opened up,” said Kim Tarver, ECCFA’s Chief negotiator. “I saw a clear path, and we made our way through.” 

Tarver spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. 

“I think we checked all the boxes,” she said. “We received higher competitive compensation, better working conditions, equal opportunity for professional growth, reasonable and sustainable workloads, and transparency specific to the collective bargaining process.”

When Tarver returns to her classroom, she can now tell her students that “it’s done.”

Board members, Patrick Parks and Melissa Barbosa-Guzman, both were pleased with the agreement. They both said, “I feel great.”

ECCFA has 350 members; 155 of whom are full-time employees. 

David Reich, welding professor, said, “The support from students brought tears to our eyes.”