CENTER TWP — The United Mine Workers approved a three-year agreement with Center Township that covers six road workers and one bookkeeper.

Township supervisors announced the approval at Tuesday’s meeting.

Supervisors approved the contract Dec. 15. Two days later the workers also voted to approve it, said union steward Mike Iscrupe.

The agreement calls for pay raises of 3.7 percent in 2017, 3.6 percent in 2018 and 2.3 percent in 2019.

This means that the base rate for Center Township road workers is $20.96 this year, $21.71 in 2018 and $22.21 in 2019.

There is no change in the health benefits package, meaning that it will continue to be in place without employee contribution.

Township supervisor Ed Latuska said the township was able to keep the insurance costs down by aggressively “shopping the insurance market to mitigate increasing insurance costs.”

Iscrupe said the union was happy with the contract.