SEIU to strike if no contract deal is made

Starting Monday, August 23rd, students, teachers, and staff may see a number of picketers around campus.

Since August 2009 the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, has been negotiating with the University for new contracts for the clerical and administrative workers, service and maintenance personnel, and technical staff.

The main contract issues that the SEIU is fighting for are job security and bargaining in good faith. The contract for the clerical workers expired August 2009, and the contracts for the service and maintenance workers and technical workers expired in October and December 2009, respectively.

In April 2010 the clerical workers voted to authorize a strike which was approved by 84 percent. Approximately three weeks ago the service and maintenance workers approved the strike by 91 percent, and technical workers voted to authorize the strike by 74 percent, according to SEIU member Joe Iosbaker. On August 6th the SEIU submitted their intent to strike

Following that announcement, on August 10th, Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares sent out a message to every member of the UIC community regarding the potential strike. In her message she stated: "We have a good record in labor relations, the UIC campus has never had a strike." She also mentioned that the goal of the university is to agree on a fair contract and that the university treats all employees fairly and equally. The message stated that the union is looking to receive a 20 percent pay increase with a total equaling approximately $19 million. The chancellor said, "Frankly, we cannot afford double digit pay increases."

Following the chancellor's message, Mr. Iosbaker wrote his own response that will be distributed to all union members. In his message he defends the union's desire for the 20 percent pay increase mentioned by the chancellor. "The proposal from the clerical bargaining committee is for 8.25 percent over three years," wrote Isobaker. The message also brings up the fact that the Local 73 members at UIC only make approximately $35,000 a year. Iosbaker ends his statement by saying, "We deserve to be treated with respect. We're faced with doing something we've never had to do: we've decided to strike if we can't get contracts."

Another cause for the potential strike, according to Isobaker, is that the university "intends to balance their budget crisis on our backs. They claim poverty with outrageous increases."

If the strike does occur as planned on the 23rd, approximately 2700 members of the SEIU will be picketing buildings on both sides of campus as well as buildings at the College of Medicine in Rockford and Peoria.

"We hope that students understand we are not just fighting for ourselves, but for our communities, and for education rights," said Isobaker. "We joined with students in opposing the tuition increases last year, and we will continue to stand together with students, faculty and graduate employees, to tell management: don't balance the budget on the backs of those least able to afford it. If there are cuts to be made, chop from the top."

The chancellor has stated that the campus and its medical center are making preparations to continue operations uninterrupted during the strike.