The University of Oregon and United Academics, the university’s faculty union, have reached a tentative agreement in contract negotiations that began in late January.

Following marathon negotiations that lasted late into the night Thursday, the collective bargaining agreement will now go before the union’s membership for ratification.

“Our second contract is a big deal for the UO,” said UA President Michael Dreiling. “With a combined five years of improvements in the salaries and contract conditions for all faculty, and through the collaborative problem-solving work embodied in each CBA, we took strides that will help make a great university even better. I applaud everyone who helped make this happen.”

“I am delighted that the faculty and administration were able to reach this agreement,” said UO President Michael Schill. “The collaborative and collegial process that led to this agreement is a model for other universities.  It reflects the hunger of our faculty to move forward to a new era of cooperation as we seek to transform our great university’s academic and research profile.”

The tentative agreement includes a number of both substantive and technical changes to contract language.  Some of the more notable provisions include:

• A three-year contract period.
• Eight percent salary increases over the contract period, a $650 lump sum payment and increases to post-tenure increases and salary floors.
• Enhanced protections for promoted non-tenure-track faculty at the end of their contracts.
• Greater flexibility for the university in the realm of funding contingent positions.

United Academics members will vote on the contract in the coming weeks.

The three-year agreement is just the second contract since UO faculty elected to organize in 2013.  If approved, it would expire June 30, 2018.

— By Tobin J. Klinger, Public Affairs Communications