Colgate University announced that it had reached an agreement with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 200 on new three-year contracts in an email sent by Vice President for Administration Christopher Wells on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The new contracts applied to both groups of workers that the union represents on the Colgate campus — a unit of Facilities workers and a unit of Library, Mail Services and ITS workers.
The agreement provided for increases in wage rates, according to the email. It also included terms that supported the future relationship between the University and the local chapter. Wells found that this agreement would ultimately serve to improve Colgate as a whole.
“In negotiations, Colgate and the union also were able to agree on terms that will strengthen our collective work environment,” Wells wrote in the email. “The conclusion of these negotiations clears the way for the University to give refocused attention to the broader body of Colgate employees, with a particular eye toward areas where we may need to make similar adjustments in compensation and benefits in order to maintain our competitive edge in recruitment and retention.”
SEIU Local 200 had been continuously negotiating with the University for a new contract since May 2024, according to union representative and Sergeant at Arms Doug McClure. Wells thanked the negotiating team formed by Colgate in the email, and also specifically recognized the efforts of the local union chapter.
“Colgate appreciates the work undertaken by all who were part of the discussions that allowed these agreements to be finalized,” Wells wrote. “On behalf of the entire Colgate University community, I also wish to extend my thanks to all of our SEIU Local 200 colleagues for their valuable and dedicated service to our campus and the mission of the University.”
Wells added that more details would be announced to the Colgate community later in the academic year as the ongoing process developed.
