A federal mediator met with negotiation teams for three and a half hours Monday in an introductory session to agree on a new three-year faculty contract.

Charles Delman, chief negotiator for the University Professionals of Illinois, Eastern’s faculty union said the meeting was a fine session, but the UPI remains guardedly optimistic.

The chief negotiator for the university, Bob Wayland, said the two groups had very good discussions with the mediator.

“He understands the position of each party,” Wayland said.

Both Delman and Wayland said the mediator discouraged either party from discussing specifically what was said during the meeting because it doesn’t help the negotiating process.

“The mediator expects confidentiality about anything he said in discussion,” Delman said.

The UPI and the administration made a joint request for a federal mediator last month to aid in the bargaining process after negotiations came to a standstill.

Dan O’Leary, director of federal mediation services for this region, said he suspects a mediator will work quickly to get the two groups to reach an agreement.

Wayland said discussions have gone well so far, and the UPI and administration expect to get together with the mediator again after Thanksgiving break.