June 19, 2018

SVSU Board Approves Contract with Support Staff Union

The Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control approved a contract with the SVSU Support Staff Association (MEA/NEA) during its regular session Monday, June 18.

The three-year agreement covers the period from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.  Terms call for wage increases of 2 percent in the first year, 1.05 percent in the second year and 1 percent in the third year.

“We appreciate the fine work our dedicated support staff employees provide on a daily basis,” said SVSU President Donald Bachand. “Making a good first impression is so important, and these are the people who keep our campus looking its best, who greet students and families and help them when they have questions, and who do important work behind the scenes to ensure campus operations run smoothly.”

The deal also provides increased flexibility in health care coverage options. As part of the contract, members will be offered a new health insurance option that features a health savings account and lower premiums, in addition to the medical plans previously offered. The agreement includes modest increases in the capped contributions the university makes to employees’ health care coverage under existing plans.

“Overall, we think this is a fair contract,” said Tish Yaros,  administrative secretary for Information Technology Services and president of the Support Staff Association. “The new health plan option will take some education to make sure our members understand it, but at the level the university is backing it, that could be a valuable benefit for our employees.”

Yaros said the union is pleased to have the new contract in place.

“We’re here to support the students, and we want them to be served well. We love working here.”

The Support Staff Association represents 168 employees, including secretaries, clerks, and campus facilities personnel.  Union membership ratified the contract Tuesday, June 12.