University of Alaska and faculty union reach tentative contract agreement

November 4, 2022

On November 1, the University of Alaska administration and United Academics, the full-time faculty union,  reached a  on a new three-year contract that increases faculty pay and the pension wage base, expands the use of faculty development funds, and provides for changes to the dispute resolution process. 

鈥淭hroughout these negotiations, our goal has been to support our faculty through fair wage and benefits increases while ensuring the agreement is financially sustainable,鈥 said UA President Pat Pitney. 鈥淲e are thankful that this process is resolved and that we can include these compensation increases in our FY24 budget request. We have agreed to a contract that is good for our faculty, their families and good for our students and university community.鈥

The monetary terms of the contract include:

  • A retroactive 3 percent wage increase for faculty beginning July 1, 2022, which will be requested in a supplemental budget submitted to the legislature in January;
  • A 2.75 percent increase for faculty wages in year 2 of the contract and a 2.5 percent increase in year 3; and,
  • A total increase in compensation and benefits is expected to be about $23 million across the three-year term of the contract.

The previous contract expired on December 31, 2021. Many long-standing terms and conditions that had served the parties well for decades have been retained in this new agreement. 

Pitney said that throughout the months of negotiations and mediation, the parties remained committed to finding solutions to proposed changes they were seeking in this new agreement.

鈥淲e value our faculty and want to ensure a stable working and learning environment,鈥 Pitney said.

The next steps include approval by the University Board of Regents, the Department of Administration, and ratification of the contract by the United Academics bargaining unit members. The request will then be submitted to the legislature for funding approval.