Faculty contract negotiations continue as the administration and faculty met Monday to discuss faculty concerns.

Charles Delman, a mathematics professor, and chief negotiator for the faculty union, University Professionals of Illinois, talked briefly about the meeting’s outcome.

“We had a productive meeting. We met to confer about what kinds of changes we wanted to make and the recommendation we had. I can’t disclose what that recommendation is, but I’m hoping that what we have come up with today will bring negotiations closer to a completion, but I couldn’t predict how long it would take,” Delman said.

Bob Wayland, Director of Employee and Labor Relations, who represents the administration in negotiations was unavailable for comment, but told the Daily Eastern News Friday that tensions were low.

“When both parties come to the bargaining table, the expectation is to reach some sort of middle ground,” Wayland said.

The issues up for discussion include the faculty teaching load over the past few years, compensation, intellectual property rights and distance education.

“We feel that is not suitable to increase the workload because it limits the amount of time we can give to students,” Delman said.

Compensation, or salary and benefits, is a tricky subject now during a time of poor health in the state economy, but Delman was confident that Eastern’s situation was improving.

“With compensation, we’re negotiating in a climate in which there is a certain amount of fiscal flexibility,” he said. “To some extent, Eastern is lucky that the budget crisis was alleviated by an increase in student enrollment. I have asked for figures on what that does to the budget, but I have not yet received them, but my guess is that the total budget is equal to what it was last year.”

Other issues are more complex.

“Intellectual property and distance education are all important issues the faculty want to make sure they maintain the education curriculum.” Delman said.

The two sides will meet again on Monday.