MPC, teachers reach tentative contract agreement

Monterey Peninsula College and the union representing teachers at the school have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The Monterey Peninsula Community College District announced the agreement Tuesday, saying it covers the 2017-18 and 2018-19 fiscal years.

The contract agreement includes increased compensation to promote the recruitment and retention of full and part-time faculty. It also accelerates the schedule for faculty pay raises, and recognizes that teachers work beyond the traditional academic semester.

Faculty have been working without a contract since June 2013. Talks stalled as the college faced severe cutbacks in state funding, coupled with an economic downturn.

Talks resumed in 2016, and earlier this year, negotiating teams from the college district and MPC Teachers Association met with a state-appointed mediator to resolve issues related to the contract.

KION is seeking comment from the union.