MnSCU and State University Faculty Reach Tentative Labor Agreement

Negotiators for the Minnesota State Colleges and University (MnSCU) system and Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) have reached a tentative settlement on a collective bargaining agreement for the two-year period ending June 30, 2013.

Details of the agreement will not be released until the IFO has presented the proposed agreement to its members and holds a ratification vote. If approved by IFO membership, the proposed agreement will be presented to the MnSCU Board of Trustees for approval. Before taking effect, the agreement also requires approval by the Minnesota Legislature.

IFO President Nancy Black said she will recommend to the IFO Board of Directors that the membership vote to approve the agreement. “It is not everything we wanted, but for most of our members it will be the first pay increase they have seen in four years,” said Black. “Four years ago, because of the state budget shortfall, the IFO voted to continue its existing contract for two years with no across the board increases or step improvements. We are already a year-and-a-half into this two-year contract period. In my opinion, this is the best we can get given current financial circumstances.”

Steven Rosenstone, MnSCU chancellor, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the negotiating teams for their hard work in reaching this tentative agreement. A completed agreement is essential to our ongoing efforts to recruit and retain high quality faculty. We look forward to the outcome of the IFO ratification vote.”