University of New Hampshire Salary Impasse-Librarian, Deanna Woods, is President

The University of New Hampshire and its faculty reached an impasse in salary negotiations on Thursday for the second time in a year, as the school struggles to cope with a steep cut in state funding.

The university and a union representing its 630 tenured and tenure-track professors will now go to mediation in an effort to agree on a new four-year contract, officials said.

Oct. 29, 2011

A previous one-year contract expired June 30, but faculty members have been working its terms during negotiations.

The school's administration has offered a 7.9 percent salary increase over four years and seeks higher faculty contributions to health insurance and retirement plans.

The union wants raises of 16 percent over four years. State law bars professors from striking.

Deanna Wood, a reference librarian and president of the faculty union, said many faculty members may opt not to accept the contract that has been offered.