The UNH Chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the UNH administration can’t seem to agree on faculty contracts.

The faculty “collective-bargaining” agreement expired late last June, though negotiations on a new contract started last February and ended officially last Monday, Oct. 9.

An impasse signifies that both parties cannot agree, even after extensive debate. “This is pretty significant,” said UNH AAUP Chapter President Dale Barkey, who is also a professor in the chemical engineering department. “It means face to face negotiations have broken down and teachers are working without a contract.”

However, professors will not stop teaching, he said. A third-party mediator will be called in and will meet with each side separately in an effort to broker a deal. If no compromise is met, both sides choose a fact-finder and present a case. The fact-finder rewards a settlement, but it is not binding.

Barkey said a mediator has not been set up yet. All negotiations have stopped and both sides are waiting for indirect negotiations. The two major issues remaining are faculty salaries and benefits.