Eastern’s faculty union has something extra to lose with this year’s state call back.

The University Professionals of Illinois settled a four-year labor contract Feb. 6, which Eastern’s Board of Trustees ratified last month.

The agreement left provisions for a one-time bonus, equal to a 1.5 percent salary increase, if there was no state rescission by mid-May. The bonus would have been equal to 1 percent if the rescission was less than $500,000.

Now Eastern has to give back $1.4 million, or 2.7 percent.

The question is when the money will be “officially requested,” possibly after May 15, said David Radavich, Eastern’s UPI chapter president.

The call back is still too large for there to be a

bonus.

“These are the governor’s recommendations,” he said. “The budget situation all spring has been so uncertain.”

Radavich said the low number of administrative losses or cuts in intercollegiate athletics should be considered.

“I’m concerned about the proposed cuts the administration has offered – again, it’s a concern where the money’s at.”

The plan for next year will lay everything on the table including spending in athletics, interim President Lou Hencken said at the State of the University address Tuesday.

Eastern is being asked to put $3.7 million in reserve on top of 8.2 percent in cuts for next fiscal year.

This year’s $1.4 million call back will be paid for mostly by funds already in reserve and reductions in summer school classes.

Classes with low enrollment could be cut from the summer curriculum. Air conditioning will be shut off in some academic buildings Friday afternoons and over the weekend.

Radavich said he won’t be affected by any classes cut for enrollment since his classes have always had large enrollments.

Faculty will receive salary increases after the first

year of the contract.

In the second, third and fourth years, salaries will be raised 2, 2.5 and 3 percent above state appropriations

“We knew (the call back) was a possibility – and that’s life,” said associate math professor Charles Delman. He will be Eastern’s UPI president in August.

The governor’s recommended cuts will total $112 million across higher education for FY 04.

Instead of taking out of education, the state should raise taxes and support public services, Delman said.

“I understand the state’s going through a tough time,” said Mary Wohlrabe, journalism professor and union member. “I can read the newspapers.”

She said the university administrators understand the worries faculty and the university community have about budget cuts.

“(Any cuts) in the academic area would be troublesome. I think Lou Hencken is on the same square.”

The salary provisions in the faculty contract came after 11 months of negotiations.

“What can one say but the budget situation is regrettable, especially since faculty have waited so long for a settlement,” said John Allison, English professor and union member.