Labor union says UNI faculty are “significantly trailing peer university salaries”

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) - The University of Northern Iowa’s faculty labor union, United Faculty, says UNI faculty salaries lag behind peer universities and have not kept up with inflation rates.

UNI United Faculty labor union represents roughly 500 faculty members at UNI and is calling for salary increases.

“We are asking the Iowa Board of Regents to provide the necessary funding for UNI faculty salaries to remain competitive with our peers, so we can recruit and retain the best faculty and keep up with inflation. It’s an investment in academic excellence at Iowa’s only regional comprehensive university,” said Dr. Christopher Martin in a release Martin is the president of United Faculty and a professor of digital media and journalism.

Below are tables provided by UNI United Faculty displaying and comparing salaries.

Graphics provided by UNI United Faculty(UNI United Faculty)

“United Faculty will meet with representatives of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa in January to present its initial bargaining proposal for the 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement.

After UNI makes it opening proposal, the Board of Regents and UNI make their counterproposal. Then, the parties bargain for a new two-year contract that will become effective on July 1, 2025,” the release from UNI United Faculty said.