Negotiations to avert SIUC strike will resume Dec. 4

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Labor negotiations between Southern Illinois University-Carbondale administrators and the union representing its faculty ended Friday with both sides hoping to agree to a deal by next month.

Both sides agreed to continue talks Dec. 4.

SIUC Chancellor Walter Wendler said the talks contained "good dialogue."

Faculty members voted last week that they would go out on strike if they don't have a contract agreement by Feb. 3. About 684 of the university's tenured and tenure-track faculty belong to the union.

Eighty-eight percent of the 346 union members who voted favored authorizing the strike, union officials said.

SIUC professors, who make an average $60,200 per year, want a 21 percent raise in salary and benefits over three years. They also want more professors.

University officials have countered with a four-year deal that would not include a raise next school year and relies on state appropriations for salary increases over the subsequent three years.

Morteza Daneshdoost, the faculty association president, said Friday's lengthy negotiations were positive for both sides.

"The two sides are working to try at least to keep conversations going," Daneshdoost said.

The university has been negotiating a new contract with its faculty for about 10 months. Daneshdoost said he's looking for more serious talks when both sides meet next month.