Western’s Board of Trustees approved a multi-year contract with President Al Goldfarb and a collective bargaining agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 at the Board’s Nov. 5 meeting.

The three-year contract for Goldfarb established his annual salary at $225,000, retroactive to July 1, 2004.  The contract includes a provision which will automatically renew Goldfarb’s contract for another three years on July 1 of 2005 and 2006.

“The automatic renewal effectively provides the Board with a two-year notice should Dr. Goldfarb wish to retire,” said WIU Board Chair J. Michael Houston. “The Board is extremely pleased with all that President Goldfarb has accomplished in his first two years. Additionally the compensation for Western’s president should reflect the salary levels for presidents at other Illinois public institutions.”

Goldfarb’s salary was $210,000, the same compensation level he received when he was hired as president July 1, 2002.

A first year base wage increase of 3.5 percent was approved as part of a five-year agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 representing 34 employees in heating plant/mechanical maintenance classifications. For the second through fifth year the contract calls for salary increases based on an agreed-upon formula.

The Board also adopted changes to the distance learning, parking and sick leave sections of the 2004-2007 agreement with the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100. The changes provide additional compensation for development of distance learning courses and includes parking and sick leave bank provisions in the contract.