Western Illinois University and the union representing teachers and staff at the school will attempt mediation to settle their contract negotiations.   Negotiations have been ongoing for a year after the existing contract expired over the summer. 

Talks began a year ago with both sides hoping they could come to an agreement on a new five year contract, but after 11 months of meetings, the administration finally called for mediation, stating negotiations were at a standstill.   The union said they intend to participate in the process and want to find a resolution, but were not part of the original call for mediation.   Both sides report this is the first time they have needed to use mediation to settle contract negotiations.  

According to Russ Morgan, the college’s Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the administration was negotiating based on the fact that the state had not had a budget in nearly two years, which put them in a “bad situation”.  The school was also unsure of enrollment.   A budget has since been passed by Illinois lawmakers. 

Morgan stated the administration hopes to create a sustainable arrangement with the union and explained that the school is in a situation where it can “no longer make some of the large promises moving forward in terms of salary increases ”.

The administration thus far has offered a 3 percent raise and requested several furlough days.   The union’s proposal has asked that current salary levels be maintained for the first two years of the contract and then include a salary increase in the final three years equal to 90 percent of the Consumer Price Index, in addition to including no furlough days.