Community college faculty and staff unions are urging the Legislature to fund negotiated raises, which after months of delay, they argue, threaten hiring and staff retention levels.

“We are working hard to ensure that residents across the state can take advantage of tuition-free community college,” said Claudine Barnes, Massachusetts Community College Council president and Cape Cod Community College professor. “Paying negotiated wage hikes in a timely manner will be crucial to recruiting and retaining the professional staff and faculty we need to meet the growing demand for public higher education.”

Raises are being held up Legislature, MCCC said in a release, which did not pass the supplemental budget containing language to validate the union’s new contract before the end of the formal session. The union said this is the second year in a row legislators delayed funding pay raises intended for community college faculty and staff after they were negotiated.

The MCCC represents community college faculty and staff within the 15 community colleges in Massachusetts.

Enrollment in the schools has trended upward following the passage of programs like MassReconnect, which allows residents 25 or older to attend the colleges for free, in the last year. In the fall 2023 semester, enrollment increase 8% or about 5,000 students.

The union argued the raises are key to keeping staff up with enrollment. Barnes highlighted the number of community college workers already working more than one job and scraping by.

“To make sure the colleges have staff needed to both teach and provide support services to a new influx of students, the state needs to end these unnecessary delays in paying faculty and staff,” Barnes said.

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The MCCC also noted the raises were already approved by both legislative chambers and are “not controversial.”

The Fair Share Amendment, passed in November 2022, has funded the expansion of community college for more residents and should cover the staffing investments, the union said.

“With the money from the Fair Share Amendment available for public education, funding these raises should not be held up for any reason,” MCCC Vice President Joe Nardoni said.