Yale White-Collar Workers Ratify New Pact

Yale University’s white-collar workers overwhelmingly ratified a new 3 1/2-year contract Tuesday, ending their yearlong fight with the school over salaries, benefits and equal pay for women.

The 890-2 vote came on the tentative contract reached over the weekend by negotiators for Local 34 of the Federation of University Employees and the university. The settlement could quickly become moot, however, because of a midnight Friday deadline for a strike by Yale’s blue-collar union, Local 35 of the federation.

Members of Local 34 have voted to respect Local 35 picket lines in the event of a strike. When Local 34 staged a 10-week walkout last fall, the food service and maintenance workers of Local 35 honored the picket lines.

The Local 34 contract includes salary increases of 6.5% in each of the first two years and 7.25% in the final year. It includes a partial cost-of-living adjustment, an increase in pensions, a first-time dental plan and other clauses covering job security, day care, overtime and leaves of absence.