Cornell University announced July 22 that the membership of the United Auto Workers Local 2300, which represents more than 1,200 Cornell service and maintenance employees on the university's main campus in Ithaca, has ratified a new, three-year agreement with the university. As reported by the union, 73 percent of the voting members approved the new contract, replacing the previous one that expired June 30.

The new contract, which runs July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2012, comes at the end of a month of good-faith bargaining between the parties.

"The parties struggled with this agreement coming as it does in the midst of the economic downturn that affects the university and its loyal and hard-working employees," said Alan Mittman, Cornell's new director responsible for labor relations. "We are pleased with the results of our negotiations and look forward to working with the union in the coming years to achieve our mutual goals."

Vice President for Human Resources Mary Opperman also expressed special thanks to the university's former director of staff and labor relations, E. Peter "Pete" Tufford, "whose leadership has guided the university's labor negotiations for over 20 years," she said. Tufford retired June 30.