State’s Community College faculty working without contract

MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Higher Education Union (NHHEU), IBEW Local 2320, is calling for the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) to act on the August 26, 2024, report recommendations of a neutral fact finder to end the bargaining process and secure contracts for all full-time faculty members.

CCSNH provides excellent training and education to the students of this state, and faculty are at the heart of the success of the programs offered.  Time and again, when students speak of the importance of their CCSNH experience they identify the faculty members that provided excellent education and the support they needed to reach their goals.

After negotiations and mediation failed to result in an agreement last year, Arbitrator Mary Ellen Shea was mutually agreed upon by the two parties to conduct a full hearing. She issued a fact-finding report after its conclusion with four recommendations regarding compensation, health insurance and contract language about reduction in force and duration.

Namely, Shea recommended an increase in wages totaling 8.4% (4.2% each) for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2024, retroactive to the beginning of each year, which was less than the amount proposed by NHHEU, IBEW Local 2320; health insurance premium increases as proposed by CCSNH; and no change to the contract language on reduction in force or duration.

“Since the recommendations were made, we have engaged in a good faith effort to negotiate with CCSNH to accept Arbitrator Shea’s recommendations, to no avail,” says NHHEU, IBEW Local 2320 Business Manager Jim Golden.

“We are highly disappointed in CCSNH’s lack of support of wage equity for its full-time faculty and demand a resolution as recommended months ago by Arbitrator Shea,” Golden says. “Our members deserve livable wages and ratified contracts.”