By Melody Hanatani
Daily Press Staff Writer

SMC — More than two years after negotiations began, the Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously ratified a contract with Santa Monica College’s teachers.

The new contract, which is retroactive to August 2004, will expire in August 2007. The terms include full coverage for health insurance, two pay raises, a one-time bonus, and new articles governing intellectual property and computer use.

The deal with the SMC Faculty Association should go a long way towards healing what had become a sometimes contentious relationship between administrators and faculty.

“I think everybody is pleased that we finally reached an agreement to move on,” said Board of Trustees Chairwoman Nancy Greenstein. “It felt very good to approve that [contract].”

Santa Monica College Public Information Office Bruce Smith said the faculty will receive a 3.5-percent pay raise retroactive to the beginning of spring semester of this year, a 1-percent pay raise effective this semester, and a one-time 3-percent bonus based on 2005-06 earnings.

The association approved the terms of the contract on Oct. 3 by a 441-4 vote.

Negotiations began in September 2004 and were delayed because of differences over pay raises, compensation issues with different departments, and issues with intellectual property and computer policy, said Jeff Shimizu, vice president of Academic Affairs, who was part of the bargaining team on behalf of the college.

Collective bargaining went to the state for mediation in June and July, and both parties finally reached an agreement outside of mediation in September.

“There were a lot of complicated articles that we had initially and it took a lot of time to iron out,” Shimizu said. “The salary compensation issue became the major focus point at the end of the bargaining.”

The college originally offered a pay raise of 3.5 percent, but the faculty association demanded an additional 2 percent. The faculty association said administrators received a similar pay raise in 2005.

The main reason why administrators were reluctant to grant the extra 2 percent, according to Shimizu, was because they were uncertain of the amount of funding the college would receive from the state.

Administrators were also concerned about the decline in enrollment, which directly affects funding, as well as the governor’s equalization bill, which provides one-time funding of approximately $3 million to Santa Monica College but would not annually roll into its base.

“We’re thrilled we’re able to finally come to an agreement with the faculty association and settle the eventual contract,” Shimizu said.

The old contract did not include any terms on intellectual property or computer policy, said Lantz Simpson, the president of the faculty association. The new article will determine who would receive intellectual property rights if a faculty member conducts work outside of their normal assignment. The computer policy covers issues over allegation of improper use of e-mail and Internet research.

“We’re very pleased with both of those,” Simpson said. “We think it’s a win-win.”