EIU Media Relations

EIU BOT Approves Faculty Contract, Pending Union Ratification

The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees held a special meeting Wednesday to approve an agreement with the faculty union, pending the union’s ratification of the proposal.

“I congratulate both the administrative negotiating team and the negotiating team for the University Professionals of Illinois,” said Leo Welch, chairman of the BOT.

The University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 started voting Tuesday, and ballots are due in by noon Friday.

If the president’s office receives formal written notification by 2 p.m. Friday that the UPI membership has ratified the agreement, the contract will be considered finalized.

“I appreciate all of the hard work put in by members of both bargaining teams,” said Robert Wayland, chief negotiator for EIU.

The contract, which is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2006, and will expire Aug. 31, 2010, provides a total of 23.5 percent in pay increases over the four-year period.

The BOT made a special effort to get the contract approved as quickly as possible in order to allow the faculty’s retroactive pay increases to be included on the November paychecks, the last paychecks faculty will receive in 2006.

The move will minimize the 2007 tax consequences faculty members would have seen if the pay increases had been included in the next paychecks, which are to go out in early January.

The contract’s cumulative effect on the EIU budget is as follows: year one, $2.6 million; year two, $2.2 million; year three, $2.3 million; and year four, $2.2 million.

The contract provides across-the-board annual increases of 3.25 percent, 3 percent, 3 percent, and 3.5 percent, respectively.

In addition, the university is offering annual market equity increases in the first three years of the contract: 2.5 percent, 1.15 percent, 1.15 percent, respectively.

The contract includes money set aside for promotions and merit increases.

Welch thanked Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs, and his staff for working to make sure the pay raises will be included in the November paychecks.

EIU President Lou Hencken also thanked the staff of the payroll and human resources offices for putting in extra hours to make sure the paycheck changes can take effect in November.