7/2/01

Following is a story lead and the University of Northern Iowa sources who can best address this topic. Feel free to contact the sources directly.

A collective bargaining agreement between the University of Northern Iowa's United Faculty and the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, will mean salary raises at UNI. According to Eunice Dell, UNI's interim vice president for Administration and Finance, the regents approved the contract calling for a 5.60 percent increase in the salary pool for faculty members in March. Distribution of this pool to employees is pending final approval by the regents at their July 18-19 meeting at UNI.

Although the regents agreed to the salary increases, the state did not completely fund those increases, which include new health insurance costs. UNI must now make budget cuts to make up the difference.

Other professional and academic staff at UNI who are not covered by the agreement will receive comparable increases, a long-standing practice at the university. Some employees at UNI are covered by an AFSCME collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the state. Their salary pool will see a comparable increase.

Earlier this year, the state legislature cut UNI's general operating budget by 5.70 percent. These new cuts, made to fulfill salary and insurance obligations, will result in a total reduction of more than 7 percent, or $6.5 million.

Contact:

Eunice Dell, interim vice president, Administration and Finance, (319) 273-2383

*Robert Koob, president, UNI, (319) 273-2566

James O'Connor, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

*Note: President Koob is off campus until 7/5/01, but is reachable via telephone.

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