When one enters the University’s various dining halls, the buffets of food and limitless options appear almost magical. A range of options that refill almost instantly upon their depletion. But it’s hardly magic.
In truth, a tireless staff of Food Service Workers and Building Service Workers man the University’s dining halls and dorms. Among the ranks is Heather Fairbanks.
By day, Fairbanks is a part of the University’s housing staff who help feed thousands of students filing into the dining halls three times a day, every day. By night, she’s a powerhouse of union organizing, fighting to protect the rights of University employees.
Fairbanks serves as the president of Chapter 119 of SEIU Local 73 — the labor union that represents the FSWs and BSWs at the University, as well as public school workers in Decatur.
A Champaign local, Fairbanks began working for the University in 2012 and became involved with the union out of curiosity. Previously, she never had a unionized job. She became an active member of Chapter 119 shortly after.
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“The first time that Heather took a petition out … to her coworkers and brought it back, we had a big meeting, and everybody was handing in their petitions, and most people have one or two sheets and maybe a few more, but Heather had this stack of petitions,” said Ricky Baldwin, a union rep with SEIU Local 73, recalling his experience working with Fairbanks. “If you can just find those people and inspire people to come out of their shell a bit like that, you can really make a difference. And that’s Heather. She’s doing that.”
Baldwin met Fairbanks well before she took over as president, describing her as “very outspoken” and “very interested in being involved.” Fairbanks’ trajectory to the presidency echoes that sentiment.
Starting as the secretary and treasurer, Fairbanks became the vice president right before last semester’s housing strike. The strike shut down a considerable portion of the University’s housing services at the beginning of a record year for new student admissions. Those on strike and SEIU Local 73 leadership cited understaffing, low wages and poor working conditions as their motivation.
Fairbanks served on the negotiating team that ultimately ended the strike and shortly thereafter took over the presidency after the sitting president, Melody Decker, stepped down.
Today, she’s continuing her efforts to help her union. In her own words, “Fighting for things where change needs to come.”
On March 25, Fairbanks and hundreds of other SEIU Local 73 members held a rally at the Illinois State Capitol. The goal was to garner support for several pieces of legislation and pressure the state to invest more in wages and benefits for University workers.
One particularly relevant piece of legislation is Illinois House Bill 1654, which would provide unemployment compensation to support staff for K-12 schools and higher education workers. The bill, sponsored by Democratic representatives Jawaharial Williams, Michael Crawford and Debbie Meyers-Martin, would amend the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act. The bill is currently working its way through the Illinois House.
“It’s more on the state than the University of Illinois, but they (both) treat us like we are professors,” Fairbanks said. “We have to fill out an academic questionnaire, and we’re not teachers. We’re not really understanding why we shouldn’t be allowed to get unemployment because we’re laid off for three months.”
On campus, Fairbanks has fought for positive change for workers in other ways. For example, ice cleats for BSW’s salting and clearing snow in the winter to prevent falls, or a vacant shift schedule so workers can pick up extra hours when they’re available.
Fairbanks emphasized her union’s importance, saying, “A union is all about power for its members in the workplace.” Teresa Deaville, Chapter 119’s vice president, noticed her dedication.
“She will do what she can for anybody, and her main goal is to just be there and help however she can,” Deaville said. “She is that person that always feels like she’s got to defend everything and everyone.”
Fairbanks’ dedication to her union is an example worth following and one that has cemented her as a pillar of the Champaign-Urbana community. Her valiant spirit is the epitome of servant leadership, and with only having just begun her term, Fairbanks’ greatest successes have yet to come.
