After more than two decades on the job, Tim Evans stepped into his second-ever contract negotiation this spring with Duke University in North Carolina. But this round was unlike anything he’d experienced before.
“I’ve never fought like that before. We didn’t just show up — we held the line — and our union brothers and sisters came out champions,” said Evans, an environmental services team lead at Duke and a proud member of AFSCME Local 77 since 1987.
The 1,100-person bargaining unit of Duke University staff knew exactly what they wanted, and community support was strong. They needed it, too. Negotiations went into the early morning. The rooms were hot, and management held firm on their end.
But this time was different.
In 2022, contract negotiations lasted just three days. This year, Evans and his team remained steadfast for over two months.
Local 77 members set their goals at a town hall meeting, and the negotiations team stuck to them. Backed by a larger, more unified committee, the bargaining team entered negotiations with the Durham, North Carolina, institution on May 19 with a full list of overdue updates to their contract.
The team walked out with all their top lines. Among the wins:
- A $500 ratification bonus
- Paid parental leave
- Expanded job tiers
- Wage scale expansion
- Union access during new employee orientation
- Equitable and expanded overtime opportunities
After years of demanding change, the new contract brings not just progress, but justice. Ratification in late July reflected this, with almost 95% of the voters approving the contract. AFSCME members know that when workers fight, the communities we serve win.