Butler County Community College

A support staff employee union at Butler County Community College authorized contract negotiators to issue a strike notice after 18 months of negotiations have not resulted in a new contract.

The Butler County Community College Education Support Professionals, which represents secretarial and clerical employees, said Monday, June 3, that members have authorized the bargaining team to issue a strike notice at its discretion.

The union said negotiations began in January 2023 before its contract with BC3 expired June 30 of that year, and the college rejected a fact-finding report issued by a state mediator following a hearing this year.

Negotiations resumed May 13, but BC3 made no significant changes to the wage proposal from its final best offer that was issued in March and rejected by union members, according to the union.

The only change in the college’s revised final best offer was an increase in the retirement payout from $8,000 to $10,000, according to the union. Union membership overwhelmingly rejected the offer and authorized the bargaining team to issue a strike notice.

“The union is baffled by the college’s continued unwillingness to engage in meaningful negotiations and their actions do not constitute bargaining in good faith — considering the enormous raises the administration especially Dr. (Nick) Neupauer (BC3 president),” said Brooke Witt, a union field director.

In April, the college said Neupauer’s base salary in 2018-19 was $236,412, which increased to $265,203 in 2022-23.

The last raise the employees received was a 1.5% increase on July 1, 2022, Witt said.

“Now, almost two years since their last raise, and quickly approaching a year without a contract, these hardworking and dedicated employees are left feeling underappreciated and disrespected,” Witt said.

BC3 officials could not be reached for comment.