To:   UPI/WIU Bargaining Unit
From:  WIU Home Page Announcement

UPI Western Chapter Ratifies Four-Year Contract


MACOMB, IL - - Members of the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Western Illinois University Chapter have ratified a four-year contract for faculty and academic support staff. The agreement includes an annual 3.5 percent increase in base salary as part of the total wage benefit package.

The voting, completed Sept. 6, was 297 in favor and 99 opposed, a 75 percent approval margin of those voting, according to UPI Chapter President Karen Sears. The 2007-2011 contract will be forwarded to the Western Board of Trustees for consideration at the Board’s Sept. 28 meeting. Once approved, a series of contract implementation meetings will be held at the college level with representatives from UPI and the University.

“We are pleased the faculty and staff UPI members have approved the new agreement,” said WIU President Al Goldfarb. “The faculty and academic support staff bargaining team worked cooperatively with administrative representatives of the University throughout the process to address issues of mutual concern in a very collegial manner. I want to express my appreciation to the membership and leadership of UPI for their support of the contract.”

"This ratification process has offered our bargaining unit an incredible opportunity to engage in genuine examination and dialogue about the goals we want to accomplish through the contract,” said Sears. “The union officers and I look forward to assisting faculty and academic support professionals over the coming months in taking an active role during the implementation of the contract."

The Western Illinois University tentative agreement for 2007-2011 is available for viewing on the University Provost and the UPI websites at www.wiu.edu/provost and www.wiu.edu/upi. The UPI/WIU chapter leaders held meetings to explain the new contract to members of the UPI bargaining unit at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Campus and on the Macomb campus.

For more information contact Sears at 309/298-1740 or the Office of the Provost at 309/298-1066.

Copy By: John Maguire , University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606