The union\'s approval moves the contract to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees for approval. Before it goes into effect, the contract also must gain approval from the state Legislature and from Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The contract calls for one step increase in the first year and two step increases in the second year. Additionally, it provides two across-the-board salary increases of 2 percent in the coming fiscal year – one at the beginning of the year and another midway through the year.

Dr. Nancy Black, president of the union, said the new contract will begin to address a two decade-long slide in faculty salary competitiveness relative to peer institutions nationwide.

"Our salaries have slipped below average," Black said. "Passage of this contract should improve our ability to attract and retain high-quality faculty members."

According to the IFO, the contract also includes several provisions sought by management dealing with more flexibility in faculty assignments, merit awards and endowed chairs.

"It was a compromise," Black said. "We gave management some things they wanted in return for some things our faculty wanted."

Reprinted from The St. Paul Union Advocate.