The members of Union 560 yesterday approved the College's latest contract offer by a vote of 178 to 67.
The new contract is the result of the 18th meeting between the College and the union, which represents custodial staff, food service employees, grounds crew and heating plant workers. Union members have been working without contracts since June 31.
"We had gone as far as we could go without striking and I didn't want to recommend that," said Earl Sweet, president of the union.
"It's a real nice way to end a difficult process," said Roger Brock, director of health and human resources.
The "difficult process" was mainly due to the union's insistence that the College guarantee that no 12-month positions would be decreased to nine-month positions.
Although the contract itself does not specifically provide such an assurance, a letter approved by Brock states that the College has no plan to downgrade any positions during the next three years.
The College and a delegate committee from the union will meet next week to sign the contract.
