Faculty members will not receive a bonus this year.

Bob Wayland, director of employee and labor relations, said April news of a $1.4 million rescission came too early for there to be a bonus.

The recently settled four-year contract with the University Professionals of Illinois had provisions for a one-time bonus, equal to a 1.5 percent salary increase, if there was not state rescission by May 15. The bonus would have been equal to 1 percent if the call back was less than or equal to $500,000.

As long as the state has only recommended and not requested the 2.7 percent in cuts yet, the bonus could still be a reality, said UPI President David Radavich.

Discussion at the Council on University Planning and Budget Friday left the impression this and next fiscal year’s call back is “not a done deal,” Radavich said.

The bonus depends on if the state’s news of a proposed call back fits the contract terms of a rescission.

“A mid-year rescission is basically any action on the behalf of the governor,” Wayland said. “We’ve been informed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Bureau of the Budget that we must reserve ($1.4 million).”

“We would take issue with that,” Radavich said.

The union was waiting to see what the legislature does with the budget, Radavich said.

The legislature has until May 31 to constitutionally approve Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s recommendation for next fiscal year.

“Things are just so uncertain every day,” Radavich said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if (the call back) did become official, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it didn’t.”

No matter what day the state asks for the call back, the university does not have the funds, Wayland said.

“May 15 was sort of the deadline we put on this,” he said. “What we’re saying is that’s money not available.”

The faculty contract was negotiated over 11 months. There was concern over the amount of a recession, but there was no idea if it would be small enough to allow for a faculty bonus.

“At the time we made this agreement, we had no idea this was going to happen,” Wayland said.