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Contract Negotiations Status

These negotiations are regarding wages and other terms and conditions of employment for a first contract between Illinois State University (ISU) and University Professionals of Illinois, United Faculty of ISU (UFISU), the Union that represents approximately 650 non-administrative tenured and tenure-track ISU faculty.

On January 8, 2024, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board certified the University Professionals of Illinois, United Faculty of ISU (UFISU), as the official bargaining representative for approximately 650 non-administrative tenured and tenure-track ISU faculty.

On February 28, the parties began negotiations and have since met almost weekly to discuss wages and other terms and conditions of employment for a first contract.

At our negotiation session on Wednesday, December 18, the University presented its initial economic package to the Union. This proposal reflects the University’s goal for tenure-track faculty to be compensated in a manner that is more competitive with the average for our peer institutions, while also ensuring the long-term viability of ISU and its ability to provide excellent educational opportunities for all students. It includes these key components:

  • Guaranteed annual 2.25% funding pools to support two annual opportunities to increase base salaries for tenure-track faculty
    • A guaranteed, across-the-board annual salary increase for all tenure-track faculty over a proposed four-year contract effective in 0.5% increments at ratification and on January 1, 2026, 2027 and 2028. This annual base salary increase is not performance-based.
    • A guaranteed annual merit pool to support additional salary increases to tenure-track faculty members. Each academic department will be allocated a merit pool equivalent to 1.75% of base salaries for its assistant, associate and full professors in their department. Specific merit-based salary increases for individuals in these positions in each department will be determined jointly by their department chairs and peer tenured faculty, as is current practice.
  • An additional $2,000 market-adjustment base salary increase for all current full professors who were promoted from the rank of associate professor during their tenure at ISU, effective at ratification. Moving forward, ISU will award promotional salary increases of $10,000 to tenure-track faculty being promoted from associate to full professor rank.
  • A new merit-based salary increase that will be available to all ISU full professors every fifth year after being promoted to full professor. This pool will be established at a funding level equivalent to 1% of base salaries for all eligible full professors and will be awarded at the discretion of academic affairs leadership.
  • For the first time, the establishment of minimum entry-level annual base salaries for each tenure-track faculty rank, to guide compensation for new assistant, associate and full professors moving forward.

The University’s initial salary proposal, over the life of the proposed four-year agreement, compensates assistant professors above projected comparable wages at peer institutions and significantly closes the gap for associate and full professors.

The Union had presented its initial 86-page proposal covering dozens of topics when negotiations began on February 28. That proposal included wage increases that would pay ISU faculty on average between 27-43% over the average salaries of tenured and tenure-track faculty at peer institutions, depending upon faculty rank.

To date, the parties have exchanged proposals and counter-proposals on more than 40 unique topics and have reached tentative agreements on the following topics:

  • Academic Freedom
  • Discipline
  • Duration
  • Electronic Availability of the Agreement
  • Facilities
  • Health and Safety
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Faculty
  • Labor/Management Meetings
  • Layoffs
  • Legislative Affairs
  • Limitations and Savings
  • No Strike/No Lock-Out
  • Personnel Files and Records
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Program Reorganization, Consolidation, or Disestablishment
  • Purpose
  • Reappointment, Evaluation, Promotion, Tenure, and Post-Tenure Review
  • Recognition
  • Shared Governance
  • Transfers
  • Union Dues
  • Union Rights

The University remains committed to continued good faith negotiations to reach a contract agreement that reflects the needs of all Illinois State University stakeholders as promptly as reasonably possible. However, it is important to note that it is quite common for negotiations to develop a first contract to take longer than renegotiations for an existing agreement due to the significant number of foundational items that must be addressed. The parties are next scheduled to meet on Monday, January 13, which will be our first session with the assistance of an independent federal mediator.