UIS union faculty, others stage informational picket Thursday

University of Illinois Springfield students and labor leaders joined UIS faculty union members at a lunchtime rally on the campus Thursday as the union and administration go into talks Friday aimed at hammering out a new deal.

A federal mediator will be joining the negotiations Friday, interim chancellor Karen Whitney noted in a statement released by the university Thursday.

The goal at this point is to have weekly bargaining sessions, said UIS United Faculty vice president Stephen Schnebly, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice.

UIS United Faculty represents about 130 members and is part of the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100, Schnebly said. About 50 to 60 people took part in Thursday’s informational picket.

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The faculty contract expired on Aug. 16.

“I hope (our actions Thursday) will actually reach the ears of the decision-makers,” Schnebly said.

Kristi Barnwell noted that 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%, said Barnwell, an associate professor of history.

Instructors struck for four days in May 2017, but that was over how the university handled reappointment, tenure and promotion of faculty.

Schnebly said salaries and faculty workload at this point are the most pressing issues for members.

“It’s really incongruent, to put it mildly, for the administration, for the state and for the U of I system to expect the faculty to deliver filet mignon in the classroom and pay us McDonald’s wages,” Schnebly said. “I think by not paying a fair wage it’s actually insulting to both us and the students who pay a lot of tuition to come to a world class institution.”

The university’s goal in the negotiations, Whitney pointed out, has been to balance an intent to compensate instructors, while also ensuring progress to reduce a $3.7 million FY21 structural deficit and achieve financial stability.

“These dual priorities have become particularly challenging in the face of declining enrollment and related fiscal challenges,” Whitney said. “We are continuing to implement an aggressive five-year deficit reduction plan that includes strategies to grow enrollment and control expenses.

“I continue to believe that we can reach a fair and fiscally responsible multiyear collective bargaining agreement that is in the best interest of our entire campus community without disruption to teaching and learning.”

Schnebly said the union doesn’t have an immediate “drop dead date” for a work stoppage.

The weekly bargaining session runs through the end of April, both sides said.

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