Over 60 union members demonstrated outside Provost John Coleman’s office Wednesday afternoon to call for higher wages and demand a new employment contract. The rally included university employees from two American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Unions, AFSCME Local 3700 and AFSCME Local 698.
“University of Illinois employees say they deserve fair and livable wages, and they’re going public in that fight for fairness,” said the unions’ media advisory. “The university employees — members of two AFSCME local unions — are calling on Provost John Coleman and university administrators to quit delaying and settle a fair union contract now.”
Their previous contract with the University expired last September. However, it will stay in effect until a new one is agreed upon.
According to the Unions, contract negotiations have been ongoing for over a year. They said between December and March, the University increased its wage offer by 0.25%.
“We’ve reached tentative agreement on every bargaining item except money,” said Robin Kaler, the University’s associate chancellor for strategic communications and marketing, in an email statement to The Daily Illini. “The union is asking for a 15% pay increase over the next three years. Over that period, the University is offering the union 6.75% over that period. It’s important to note that the campuswide salary program this year is 2%.”
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Members of the unions include clerical, administrative, childcare, technical and professional university employees.
Some organizers voiced their frustration by holding signs that read, “3% raise for chancellor, 3% raise for president,” “We serve our community” and “Fair contract now.”
“It’s not right that university leaders give themselves five-figure raises while offering workers pennies,” the Unions said in a joint Facebook post. “It’s time for UIUC to do what’s right.”
