Citing a massive number of retirements in the next decade, the University of Saskatchewan has made a move to attract junior faculty.

A one-year deal between the university and its faculty association ratified in January gives all 900 union members a flat $2,460 wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2001.

The increase to the salary scales for all ranks favors faculty members with lower wages. The university argued its salaries were more competitive at senior levels than they were at junior levels, and hiring new faculty at the lower end was problematic at a time when all universities are hiring new faculty.

Tim Quigley, chair of the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association, said the salary proposal was a difficult issue for members but was accepted because of concern about the university's ability to attract junior faculty.

He says the wage increase is in line with other public sector settlements in the province.

"The university wanted to direct additional funds to only those programs that were having the greatest difficulty recruiting," Quigley said. "The flat-rate increase was a compromise to address the problem."

Other changes to the contract include longer paid parental leave (increased from 17 to 21 weeks), removal of employee premiums for the dental plan, a vision care plan, increased professional expense allowance and a flexible hiring policy that will allow departments to start new faculty at higher pay levels within the existing salary structure.

The new agreement expires June 30, 2002. Quigley says the association will begin bargaining almost immediately for a longer term agreement.

Certified in 1977, USFA is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a trade union.