UIS faculty vote to authorize strike; will file notice with labor relations board Thursday

University of Illinois Springfield United Faculty members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike that could come as early as May 2.

The union filed an intent-to-strike notice with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board on Thursday.

The faculty's contract expired on Aug. 16.

Earlier: UIS faculty union members rally on campus. Here's what's next with contract talks

The vote by UIS United Faculty, which represents about 130 members and is part of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100, came Tuesday and Wednesday.

UISUF vice president Stephen Schnebly, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice, did not give a number of how many faculty members turned out for the authorization vote.

Schnebly said the vote opens up the option of a strike after a 10-day cooling off period, but "does not commit" faculty to a strike.

“We don’t want it to come to a strike, but after a year of bargaining we’ve seen little progress on critical issues in negotiations,” said UISUF president Kristi Barnwell, an associate professor of history. “It’s past time for UIS administration to prove that they prioritize our students and value the work of our faculty by getting a fair deal done.

“By authorizing a strike today, our members are sending a loud and clear message to the University of Illinois system that they must do better for our students and faculty now. We’re united and ready to strike if needed to ensure that they do.”

Barnwell said lagging salaries have made it difficult to recruit and retain high quality faculty members to the campus. Since 2017, faculty have only received small annual increases of 1 or 2%, she said.

The strike authorization vote, Schnebly said, "speaks to the faculty's unwillingness to accept the level of progress we've seen thus far (from administration). And let me be clear, that is effectively no progress in the eyes of our membership.

"We are stuck solidly in park. We have to throw it into drive and hit the gas. Today's vote shows we are willing to fight, but I don't want people to forget that we're willing to negotiate. In fact, we want to negotiate."

Michael J. Murphy, an associate professor of gender and sexuality studies at UIS, said United Faculty has been bargaining for a year on a current contract. He said offers to extend the current contract, in light of the interim chancellor and COVID-19 situations, were shot down by administration.

"The only thing that seems to move them is the threat or the fact of a strike," Murphy, a member of the UISUF communications team. "I frankly think it's sad and it's a waste of taxpayer money."

Murphy called UIS "the Rhode Island of the University of Illinois system" that includes campuses in Urbana-Champaign and Chicago.

"We receive a very small amount of funding and it cheapens the quality of education for our students and underfunds academic programs and it makes it difficult for the university to increase faculty salaries because they're being strangled by the U of I," Murphy said.

The last time faculty at UIS went on strike was in 2017, just two years after the union organized. The two sides reached a tentative agreement after five days.

About 1,500 graduate assistants at the University of Illinois Chicago went on strike Monday after talks broke down with the system.

In a statement, interim chancellor Karen Whitney said while the administration was disappointed in the strike authorization vote, the mechanism was "not uncommon in the negotiation process. It gives the union the option to call for a strike, once all the legal requirements and timelines are met, but doesn’t necessarily mean a strike will occur. The university will continue to negotiate in good faith."

On April 11, the university provided the union with a comprehensive package proposal that covers every outstanding item remaining for agreement, including key economic issues, Whitney said.

More: School board vice president Mike Zimmers presented Bob Goldman Friend of Education award

The two sides are scheduled to meet today, along with a federal mediator. Sessions are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday as well.

"We greatly value and appreciate our faculty, and we are committed to the academic success of our students," Whitney added. "I am hopeful that we will be able to reach a fair, sustainable and fiscally responsible agreement at the bargaining table with which both parties can be satisfied.”

Whitney will serve as interim chancellor through June 30. Janet L. Gooch was named chancellor and vice president for the University of Illinois System on March 22.

Currently, Gooch is executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Gooch visited the UIS campus Monday and Tuesday.

ISU workers ratify new deal

Workers at Illinois State University ratified a new three-year contract heading off a looming strike.

Catering, dining center, grounds and janitorial employees represented by AFSCME Local 1110 came to terms Wednesday.

The union represents about 350 employees in those sectors.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: UIS faculty votes to authorize a strike as early as May 2