'We Lose Wages When We Strike' – Chicago Tribune

After an eight-hour bargaining session with administrators Monday, Eastern Illinois University union members are slated to begin striking Thursday.

“After our members saw the administration walk away from the table, we knew we had no choice but to move forward with a strike,” said EIU University Professionals of Illinois President Jennifer Stringfellow. “They managed to work out a deal for outgoing President (David) Glassman to become the highest-paid professor on campus — with the lightest course load. Yet they won’t give the faculty and staff who work closely with students every day adequate compensation, even as they ask us to take on more work.”

Monday’s bargaining session primarily focused on key financial issues, including across-the-board raises, or a cost-of-living adjustment, for everyone in the union regardless of merit or performance.

Billy Hung, EIU UPI lead negotiator and a microbiology professor, said the union gave the administration a third offer on Monday, but the administration — through a mediator — said it would not be providing an answer and wrapped up for the day earlier than anticipated.

“We were shocked because we were expecting to keep going,” Hung said on Wednesday. “Assuming that they wanted to avoid a strike, they need to know that whatever they give us last is what our members will consider.”

According to EIU UPI officials, the administration offered a four-year contract with a 3.75% raise in the first year, 3% in the second and third years and 2.25% in the last year.

On the flip side, EIU UPI’s offer was an increase of 7%, 5%, 5% and 4% over four years.

“I am disappointed by the administration’s decision to stop the process — we managed to narrow our differences down to less than £900,000 per year over the length of the contract,” Hung said. “In dollar amount, we are not that far apart. We came a lot closer than we have before in just one day and that’s why we were caught off guard when they wanted to stop.”

The matter is made more frustrating considering the university’s financial position, Hung added.

According to a financial audit report obtained by the Tribune, Eastern Illinois began the fiscal year with a surplus of £15.4 million.

After members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike on March 10, EIU UPI filed its 10-day notice with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. Hung said the union still wanted to avoid a strike.

“We lose wages when we strike and we have to make plans to change the rest of the semester when we strike in terms of our classes,” he said. “It is just a hassle — I can’t tell you how stressed I am today just to get everything in order.”

EIU joins Chicago State University, which has been on strike since Monday for fair compensation and adequate support for staff. UPI members at Governors State University have also been bargaining to secure fair contracts for several months.

Governors State has an additional bargaining session scheduled for Thursday and could strike as early as Friday.

Nursing instructor Dorothy Moore strikes with fellow Chicago State University faculty and staff on the school campus on April 3, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

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“We will stand strong on every campus so that students at Illinois public universities get the education they deserve,” John Miller, UPI president and Illinois Federation of Teachers vice president of higher education, said in a statement. “We must hold these institutions accountable to the fact that investing in our faculty and staff is a direct investment in students.”

EIU union members and university officials have been bargaining for more than a year, and faculty and staff have been working without a contract since September 2022.

The two sides bargain again on Friday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the university said it was aware of the union’s plan to strike.

“The University remains committed to reaching a good-faith resolution that sensibly balances its employees’ needs with the opportunity, accessibility, and quality education all EIU students and families have come to expect.”

The university added that plans are in place to help ensure students can finish the semester and graduate on time.

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