NIU paraprofessionals belonging to American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees accepted NIU’s offer Thursday for a 9 percent pay raise effective July 1, 1989.

Fifty-five of the 77 AFSCME employees took a break from their duties yesterday morning to end a seven-month debate which included an unfair labor practice charge against NIU.

Of the 55 votes cast, all but three were in favor of accepting NIU’s offer. No objections to the terms were voiced Thursday before or after the vote was taken, AFSCME representative Kay Argo said.

“We’re very happy with the outcome,” Argo said. “We managed to get more money for equity raises than the non-union employees were given. This is the part we worked hardest to get.” This is also what slowed the negotiations, she said.

The pay increase now must be approved by the Board of Regents at their Thursday meeting at Illinois State University at Normal.

NIU’s offer gave additional raises for those paid less than workers with similar jobs at other universities.

The across-the-board and equity raises average to a 9.3 percent, or $138,000 more per year. The increase affects NIU’s 77 AFSCME employees.

However, non-union NIU employees also received a 9 percent pay increase and .23 percent more money was given to make their pay comparable to state averages.

The AFSCME members based their equity raise request on certified public accountant Mary Jo Marshall’s November 11, 1989, study showing that workers with similar jobs earn more money at other Illinois universities. Marshall works in the NIU Department of Student Loans and was the chairwoman of the AFSCME negotiating team.

According to Marshall’s study, some of the underpaid employees at NIU include benefit counselors, library technical assistants, natural science lab assistants, photographers, scientific artists and financial aid advisers.

The equity raises ranged from $156 to $702 a year per person.

If the raises are approved at Thursday’s BOR meeting, back-pay from July 1, 1989, will be given later this semester.

The paraprofessional’s current contract will expire June 30, 1990 and negotiations for an new contract can begin 90 days before the expiration.

In preparation, AFSCME will begin surveying members in February to compile a list of improvements to take to the bargaining table.