At the end of September, UE Local 221 members who work for the Head Start program at Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) ratified a two-year contract that includes wage increases and improvements to language. The benefits in the contract were won despite $1.2 million of federal funding cut to the Head Start program.

The members won a $250 one-time stipend for full-time employees and a $100 stipend for part-time employees. The contract includes a 1.5 percent wage increase and the option for members to negotiate future cost-of-living adjustments during the life of the contract. The members also won layoff protections — extending the layoff recall list from 12 to 18 months for employees with one to three years of service.

The bargaining team consisted of Kelli Arkley, Deborah Brousseau, Nancy McBey, and Julia Tucker. They were assisted by International Representative Sherry Bryant.