YAKIMA, Wash. -- Unionized teachers and staff at EPIC in Sunnyside protested Tuesday what they claim is management's failure to negotiate a contract.

Members of SEIU Local 925, based in Seattle, represents 350 employees at EPIC's various locations around Yakima County. Contract talks started in February.

"EPIC negotiators have come with few serious proposals ... and have proposed cuts which would hurt the workforce and the children they serve," said a news release issued Tuesday by SEIU.

The union is angry that the agency is spending $700,000 in federal stimulus money to help employees get associate and bachelor's degrees in early childhood education instead of using it for salary and benefit increases.

"Teachers and staff at EPIC fully support making college more attainable," Angie Solis, a teacher at the Prosser site, said in a news release. "We're concerned, though, about where that federal money is really going to end up. EPIC couldn't possibly spend that much on our B.A.s over the next year."

Under Congress' recent reauthorization of the federal Head Start program, Head Start instructional personnel must have an associate's degree by 2011 and a bachelor's degree by 2013.

Steve Mitchell, EPIC chief executive, said the union is misinformed.

"They need to read the stimulus information," Mitchell said. "It's sad they have that mindset. These things are not optional."

* Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com.