Ohio University classified employees avoided a strike after voting to accept a new three-year contract yesterday.

The contract was approved by a 390-136 vote and will go into effect today.

The affected custodial, maintenance and dining service employees filed a strike notice Friday over concerns about healthcare and wages.

Classified employees will receive wage increases of 2.5 percent the first year, 3 percent in 2008 and 3.5 percent in 2009 despite the amount of health insurance deducted from their bi-weekly paychecks almost doubling over the period, said T.J. Vale, strike committee chair of the union.