January 29, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2025

University of Alaska, United Academics reach tentative 3-year contract agreement

Fair contract balances faculty recruitment, retention with fiscal sustainability

(FAIRBANKS) 鈥 91麻豆天美 (UA) administration has reached a tentative agreement (TA) with United Academics (UNAC), the bargaining unit representing most faculty at the 91麻豆天美 system. The agreement comes after UA and UNAC mutually declared impasse in December to begin the process of working with a federal mediator. The negotiating teams reached a tentative agreement after two sessions with the federal mediator.

鈥淔rom the beginning, UA has been committed to reaching a fair contract that balances faculty recruitment and retention within the confines of our fiscal realities, and this agreement does exactly that,鈥 said UA President Pat Pitney. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful for the hard work put in over the last several days that allowed us to reach an agreement. We look forward to submitting it for gubernatorial and legislative consideration this session.鈥

The agreement is effective through December 31, 2027, and is estimated to cost roughly $21 million for just UNAC. Notable terms include:

  • Increases to salary minimums for bargaining unit members;
  • Across-the-board salary increases of 2.75%, 3%, and 3.25% in FY26, FY27, and FY28 respectively; and,
  • Status quo employee health benefit cost share of 82% employer, 18% employee.

Once ratified and funded, the agreement will apply to all UNAC unit members at all three of UA鈥檚 universities: the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS).

鈥淥ur bargaining team has worked tirelessly - particularly over the last week - to reach an agreement,鈥  President Pitney said. 鈥淚 want to sincerely thank and recognize them for their time and energy on behalf of our faculty and the University.鈥

The next steps include ratification by UNAC, approval by the University Board of Regents at its regularly scheduled February meeting, and approval by the Department of Administration. The request will then be submitted through the governor鈥檚 Office of Management and Budget and to the legislature for legislative appropriation this session.

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For more information, contact Jonathon Taylor, director of public affairs, at 907-350-0168 (cell), or via email at jmtaylor9@alaska.edu.