The University of Toledo and union officials representing 1,800 employees on Health Science Campus announced today that the current collective bargaining agreement has been extended to Sept. 30.

Connie Rubin, senior director of labor and employees relations, and Tom Kosek, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2415 and AFSCME Ohio Council 8, said despite progress on non-financial issues, both sides lack vital information yet to be released as part of the state of Ohio’s budgetary process.

“The state has already announced sizeable decreases in medical reimbursement and financial aid for higher education,” Kosek, a lead staff nurse at The University of Toledo Medical Center, noted. “It has become apparent that financial information we’ve used during the bargaining process is no longer a valid measurement for negotiations.”

Progress has been made during a handful of negotiations since June 1. Additional sessions have been scheduled in late July and throughout September. It is unclear when Ohio lawmakers will finalize the state’s budget, which is being debated in Columbus.

“In the interest of workplace stability, the University and the collective bargaining units representing employees on our Health Science Campus pledge that we will continue to move forward in negotiations, once the necessary economic information becomes available,” Rubin said. “Benefits under the current contract will remain effective until a new agreement is reached.”

Without the extension, a three-year contract between UT and AFSCME would have expired tomorrow. Both parties say a new agreement may be reached before Sept. 30, depending on the state’s budgetary progress.

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