{"id":32999,"date":"2022-06-21T07:16:17","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T07:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/?p=32999"},"modified":"2022-06-21T07:16:17","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T07:16:17","slug":"uis-union-faculty-others-stage-informational-picket-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/21\/uis-union-faculty-others-stage-informational-picket-thursday\/","title":{"rendered":"UIS union faculty, others stage informational picket Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"

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University of Illinois Springfield students and labor leaders joined\u00a0UIS\u00a0faculty 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>.<\/p>\n

A federal mediator will be joining the negotiations Friday, interim chancellor Karen Whitney<\/a> noted in a statement released by the university Thursday.<\/p>\n

The goal at this point is to have weekly bargaining sessions, said\u00a0UIS United Faculty vice\u00a0president Stephen Schnebly, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice.<\/p>\n

UIS United Faculty<\/a> represents about 130 members and is part of the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100<\/a>,\u00a0Schnebly said. About 50 to 60 people took part in Thursday’s informational picket.<\/p>\n

Teachers union:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Aaron Graves reclaims top spot in Springfield Education Association<\/a><\/p>\n

The faculty contract expired on Aug. 16.<\/p>\n

“I hope (our actions Thursday) will actually reach the ears of the decision-makers,” Schnebly said.<\/p>\n

Kristi Barnwell noted\u00a0that lagging salaries have made\u00a0it 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.<\/p>\n

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Instructors struck for four days\u00a0in May 2017, but that was over how the university handled\u00a0reappointment, tenure and promotion of\u00a0faculty.<\/p>\n

Schnebly said salaries and faculty workload at this point are the most pressing issues for members.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

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The university\u2019s goal in the\u00a0negotiations, Whitney pointed out, has been to balance an intent to\u00a0compensate instructors, while also ensuring progress to reduce a $3.7 million FY21 structural deficit and achieve financial stability.<\/p>\n

“These dual priorities have become particularly challenging in the face of declining enrollment and related fiscal challenges,” Whitney said.\u00a0“We are continuing to implement an aggressive five-year deficit reduction plan that includes strategies to grow enrollment and control expenses.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

\"Ryan<\/figure>\n

Schnebly said the union doesn’t have an immediate “drop dead date” for a work stoppage.<\/p>\n

The weekly bargaining session runs through the end of April, both sides said.<\/p>\n

Contact Steven\u00a0Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com\/@StevenSpearie.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n