By Joe Ragusa
NORMAL – Heartland Community College is headed back to mediation with its faculty union.
The administration and the Heartland Faculty Association met Tuesday with a mediator. Jane Camp, vice president of public relations for the union, said there wasn’t a lot of movement.
“The union definitely is making concessions,” Camp said. “We’re definitely a major component to student success here and we’re hoping to be recognized.”
The second meeting with a mediator is scheduled for Nov. 20.
The union previously requested a 4.75 percent raise this year, but Camp declined to comment on where the union stands now. The administration had offered a one-percent raise this year and a half-percent raise next year.
“We’re concerned about some of the structural issues with the college and a (1.3-to-1 faculty/administrator ratio) is kind of excessive,” Camp said.
89 faculty members have been working without a contract since June 30.
Heartland Community College president Rob Widmer said in a statement: “Mediation began yesterday, Tuesday, October 27, and lasted approximately 5½ hours. The mediated bargaining will continue with another session scheduled for Friday, November 20. Hopefully progress will continue through this process and an agreement will emerge. We considered yesterday positive movement toward that outcome.”
Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].
