It’s over.

Eastern’s Board of Trustees Tuesday approved the faculty union contract settled after 11 months of negotiations with a threat of a strike.

Three other contracts were also approved.

The board’s decision approves the first four-year contract the union has had with the university, interim President Lou Hencken said.

Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois traditionally has a three-year contract, but with an upcoming presidential search in a few years, the extended agreement will ensure the new president is not confronted with negotiations, union president David Radavich said.

“The university administration decided they were willing to offer something worth our while for another year,” associate math professor Charles Delman said. Delman was lead negotiator during talks for the contract.

The contract also provides language to issues such as distance education, academic freedom and grant specifics for the first time, Radavich said.

He said a large majority of faculty are happy with the contract, evident by a contract ratification vote of more than 90 percent.

A tentative agreement representing about 600 faculty was reached Feb. 5.

The settlement includes a one-time bonus this year equal to a 1.5 percent salary increase if there is no rescission by May.

Hencken said that bonus is not likely.

“It does appear we are going to have a call back,” he said.

However salary increases will be 2, 2.5 and 3 percent above state appropriations in the second, third and fourth years of the

contract.

The third-year increase will be an estimated cost of more than $970,000 to the university.

The other contracts are one wage opener and two full three-year contracts.

The wage opener was for the last year of a three-year agreement with clerical workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The union, representing about 200 employees, agreed to a lump sum among other financial specifics, costing the university an estimated $91,000.

The cost is also dependent on a state call back.

The first full contract is with about 190 food and service workers also represented by AFSCME.

The agreement covers such issues as compensation, overtime and shift provisions.

The contract is based on a rescission and could cost the university $74,000 or $49,000.

About 20 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers were represented in the last contract.

The contract covers wages and contract language.

The cost to the university is about $20,000 for fiscal year 2003 and 2004.

The Teamsters Local #26 contract agreement was pulled from the agenda after the union failed to ratify its contract.

The group represents about 15 grounds and equipment operators.