LCC negotiators move closer on pay, benefits.

Byline: GREG BOLT The Register-Guard

A nagging labor dispute at Lane Community College moved a bit closer to an agreement Monday after faculty and administration bargainers made progress on salary and health care issues.

The two sides agreed to work cooperatively over the next two weeks to develop options for a settlement of the contract dispute, which involves a two-year reopener on salary and benefit issues. Another session is scheduled for Feb. 11.

The LCC Education Association is seeking a new step at the top of the salary scale and a health insurance package that does not increase out-of-pocket expenses for faculty members. The college is working to fit a new salary and benefit agreement within a budget that will need to be trimmed by more than $6 million next year.

Dennis Gilbert, chairman of the faculty bargaining team, said new inflation figures are below expectations and could help free up money to meet the association's salary proposals. The new figures mean that money the administration already has put on the table will go further.

The college already has agreed to fund part of the new step for faculty at the top scale; the association is seeking funding for the remaining portion.

Agreement on the health care package has been more difficult. Sharp increases in medical insurance prompted the administration to propose increases in the amount faculty members pay, which the association claims would erase any salary increase and leave most faculty with a net cut in pay.

LCC has reached agreement with its classified union and also has a new agreement with its managers. Gilbert said both of those offer health-care packages that do not increase out-of-pocket expenses, and he said faculty should get the same kind of deal.

The two sides have been working to develop more information on insurance costs, and Gilbert said the data gathered so far supports the faculty position.

"The joint data gathering on health insurance has made it clear that faculty are treated inequitably with regard to out-of-pocket health-care costs," he said in an e-mail sent to association members Tuesday. "Progress on health-care costs is our next focus. A number of avenues for progress are open and being explored."

LCC President Mary Spilde is taking part in the negotiations. She was out of town Tuesday and could not be reached for comment.

The two sides negotiated a six-year contract that took effect in 1999 and calls for new negotiations on pay and benefits at two-year intervals. The current negotiations began in May and cover the 2001-03 period.

Talks have hit snags in the past and were close to going into mediation, but the sides have come closer to agreement in recent sessions. Still, the association has instituted a "work to rule" campaign, urging members not to agree to work that is beyond the strict language of the contract.

The LCCEA represents all those in academic positions who work more than half-time at the college. LCC has about 300 contracted faculty.