UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Members of Teamsters Local Union No. 8 employed by Penn State have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the University to replace the current agreement, which expired June 30. Teamsters Local Union No. 8 represents the bargaining unit consisting of approximately 2,600 technical-service employees at University locations throughout the Commonwealth.
Teamsters Local Union No. 8 announced the decision Monday afternoon (Aug. 18) following the count of mail ballots by union members to accept or reject the offer made by the University. Ninety percent of the membership approved the contract in a vote of 1,478 yes votes to 133 opposed.
The new agreement is effective July 1 and covers the three-year period through June 30, 2017.
Penn State President Eric Barron said the University's technical-service workers provide much of the needed behind-the-scenes work and skilled labor that helps to keep Penn State in operation. The president is pleased that administration and union representatives were able to work together to come up with "a reasonable contract that benefits both the institution and the bargaining unit."