SIUC faculty, administrators reach tentative contract deal

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty and administrators have agreed on a tentative four-year contract, officials for both sides said.

The agreement includes a 3 percent pay raise for all faculty retroactive to July 1, 2006, raises of at least 3 percent in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, and a pay increase of at least 3.5 percent in 2010, officials said Friday.

University administrators also agreed to spend $3.25 million through 2010 to help make SIUC faculty salaries comparable with other Illinois public universities.

"I think this is a strong statement that we do believe in appropriate salaries for faculty and staff," said interim chancellor John Dunn.

The contract will be presented on Thursday to SIUC Faculty Association members, who will vote on the pact before spring break, officials said.

"This has been a significant change," said faculty union negotiator and engineering professor Morteza Daneshdoost. "This is a significant amount of money to address salary."

The bargaining teams also agreed on promotion and tenure grievance procedures to reflect a recent SIUC Faculty Senate resolution proposing changes to the university's policies, officials said.