SIU invests $1.2m to address faculty salary compression

CARBONDALE, Ill. (Heartland News) - Southern Illinois University Carbondale(SIUC) is investing $1.2 million dollars into salary compensation, in accordance with a 2024 collective bargaining agreement(CBA) with faculty.

According to SIUC officials, the 2024 CBA included an agreement to negotiate how to distribute $1.2 million based on the findings of an independent compensation study.

On Friday, November 6, the negotiations concluded with an agreement after the compensation study was complete.

The agreement provides pay increases for 190 faculty. The increases are in addition to annual salary increases that were already negotiated.

“This agreement represents another important step in supporting the faculty who carry out SIU Carbondale’s teaching, research and service mission,” Chancellor Austin A. Lane said. “We committed in our agreement with the Faculty Association to address salary compression, and we are pleased to follow through on that commitment.”

According to the Academy to Innovate HR website, salary compression happens when the pay differences between employees with varying levels of experience, skills, or seniority becomes small.