NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — Some 300 workers at Illinois State University are walking the picket line early Wednesday morning after contract negotiations broke down Tuesday night.
The walk out began about 6 a.m. as workers with AFSCME, Local 1110, formed lines across the campus.
Buildings, grounds and dining services employees have been negotiating with the university for more than a year and last month, the rank and file authorized a strike vote. On Tuesday night, both sides presented their last ditch effort and couldn’t reach an agreement.
“You know, they pretty much stopped that when they gave us their last, best and final offer, stuck with it the second time and then turned around and said today that again, we’re not giving you anything else,” said local’s President Chuck Carver.
The union is saying it’s seeking higher pay and a fair contract. University officials say their final offer included multiple wage increases
Union members met with the university and a mediator on Tuesday. The university reportedly issued a last, best, final offer. The union did a counteroffer, and the university refused, according to Carver.
The university, on its website, said it is “committed to continuing normal operations to the fullest extent possible.”
The statement goes on to say that a “strike is not in the best interest of our employees or the University community. However, the University fully respects the rights of its employees represented by AFSCME Local 1110 to participate in such activities under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act and other applicable laws.”
According to ISU, it’s “Last, Best and Final offer” provided “competitive wages for the term of the contract. All employees in the bargaining unit would receive five guaranteed increases to their base pay, with the first two of these increases implemented within the next 12 weeks.”
Carver has said the union is still willing to return to the table, “if the university calls to renegotiate.” The remaining sticking points for union are still unclear.
The union represents more than 300 employees who are among the lowest-paid employees on campus. The union said members have not had a pay increase in two years.
This story was originally reported by WMBD-TV and published on CIProud.com.
