EIU-UPI Lead Negotiator Billy Hung speaks to union members after the strike was announced Tuesday evening at the Union in the Charleston/Mattoon Room. Hung said he was overwhelmed by the union’s support for the strike. (Rob Le Cates)
The University of Illinois Professionals chapter of Eastern, EIU-UPI, will strike starting Thursday morning after a year-long bargaining period with Eastern.
The union held a membership meeting on Monday to discuss the new contract proposal from the Eastern Administration bargaining team.
EIU-UPI and the administration have been negotiating a new contract for more than a year.
EIU-UPI bargaining had the power to call a strike; but, before doing that they wanted to see what the trade unionists wanted to do first.
EIU-UPI members took a poll indicating which of three options they wanted to take to move forward in negotiations for a new contract with Eastern.
More than 185 members participated in the survey.
A large number of participating members, 95 percent, said they wanted to strike from Thursday morning.
Billy Hung, EIU-UPI lead negotiator and biology professor, said it was important to know that EIU-UPI members are willing to support a strike decision even at the cost of their you are
“I’m really excited by how much our members really want this, and are willing to put their paychecks on the line to make sure we have a sustainable plan at EIU that addresses the human capital that makes this university unique properly and that we can continue to thrive,” said Hung. “Because if we as a campus can’t do that, what do we have?”
Betsy Jewell, a member of the EIU-UPI bargaining team and academic support professional at Student Publications, said EIU-UPI’s strike also helps other faculty on campus get higher pay raises in the future.
“We need to get the raises on this campus out of the basement for all the people on campus,” Jewell said. “It’s been long enough to have values of one to two percent, so it’s important that we represent everyone on campus and help them increase the value of the human capital on this campus, the value that the university is giving to humans of this campus.”
Billy Hung, lead negotiator for the Eastern Illinois University Professional Bargaining Team chapter, talks with union members after the strike was announced Tuesday evening at the Union Hall in Charleston /Mattoon. The union voted roughly 95 percent in favor of the strike and will picket Thursday morning. Hung said he was overwhelmed by the union’s support for the strike. (Rob Le Cates)
Melissa Ames, EIU-UPI bargaining team member and English teacher, said students are also learning during this process that your voice matters.
“We’re sending a message to students,” Ames said. “This is a message that you should always fight for your worth and your work and I’m excited to see them join us in this, and always know that your voice matters and people need to listen.”
Hung said the union is on strike starting Thursday to improve the quality of education at Eastern.
“I think the one thing we want the campus and the community to know is that we’re doing this because we care about the quality of education that our students receive at EIU,” Hung said. “It’s painful to hit, obviously, so we held out as long as we could to get a resolution without her, but without her it’s not possible.”
Lee Patterson, history teacher, also attended the meeting.
“We voted to strike and I think we felt that was a necessary step,” Patterson said. We didn’t want to have to take this step, but we don’t think we have a choice. The administration pushed this for us.”
Patterson said the working conditions and the student’s learning conditions in their learning experience are parallel.
Patterson also said students come to Eastern to get a “good education” and the faculty is the key to that.
“Why the administration thinks mistreating us teachers is in EIU’s best interest makes so much sense,” Patterson said. “I’m completely baffled.”
Steve Scher, professor of psychology, leaves the Eastern Chapter of the University of Illinois Professionals meeting where, after voting, approximately 95 percent voted in favor of the strike Tuesday evening. The union’s bargaining team made the final decision to strike. (Rob Le Cates)
Steve Scher, professor of psychology, attended the meeting and commented on how things were going.
“We knew what we had to do [and what] it has to be done because the university has shown no respect and treated us like an important part of the university,” Scher said.
Scher said professors are an important part of the university because they are the ones who connect with students and make the university work.
Scher also said those involved are ready to take the next steps.
“[We] We want to show the administration that it really matters if we’re not going to do the things that we don’t just do in the classroom,” Scher said. “That’s important, of course, but also advising the students who work in the library who are part of the committees, supervising researchers, students, and that they can’t do it without us, obviously, and they have to show that they recognize that in many, many ways. .”
Shelly Spear, an instructor in the English department, was also at the meeting.
Spear said the meeting was, “An amazing sense of unity that I felt amazing to be a part of. I think everyone is willing to do whatever it takes to make the university what we want it to be.”
Shelley Berry, a journalism professor and union member of Eastern Illinois’ University Professionals chapter, proudly holds her arm up after the strike was announced Tuesday evening at the Union in the Charleston/Mattoon hall. (Rob Le Cates)
In an email to Union members, they were told not to report to work early Thursday morning, not to check emails and not to update online courses.
Additionally, in the email, they were asked to update their auto-responder emails to: “The Illinois Chapter of University Professionals at Eastern Illinois University, UPI 4100, is currently on strike. If you need help, please contact the department manager, [name] at [email]. After the strike is over, I’ll see your email and get back to you at that time.”
The EIU-UPI is negotiating a new teaching contract from March 21, 2022. They have been working without a contract since August 31.
EIU-UPI filed a complaint against Glassman’s office for failure to bargain in good faith in October.
The union called in a federal mediator in November after bargaining sessions hit a “stone wall.”
The union delivered an intent to strike March 27 to Glassman’s office that allowed them to strike as early as Thursday.
Eastern isn’t the only university with a faculty strike on the horizon.
Chicago State University’s UPI chapter began a union strike Monday after bargaining for nearly a year.
On the first day of the strike, Chicago State began picketing at 9:30 a.m. and held a press conference at noon.
During the second day on Tuesday, they started picketing again at 9:30 am and concentrated at noon.
The governor of UPI State University has announced his intention to strike if an agreement is not reached as well. They can go on strike from April 7.
Eastern has yet to respond to the strike announcement.
Madelyn Kidd and Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected]
