By WMBD TV
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — AFSCME Council 31, representing certain Illinois State University employees, has sued the school, saying it broke the law by hiring temporary replacement workers to “win” against its union workers.
The union that represents some 350 buildings, grounds and dining services employees alleges the university violated the Employment of Strikebreakers Act.
The so-called Strikebreakers Act says no person or entity “shall knowingly contract with a day and temporary labor service agency to provide a replacement” for striking or locked out employees.
The lawsuit asks a judge to issue an injunction, a form of restraining order, to prevent replacement workers from doing the jobs of the strikers.
“To gain leverage to ‘win’ the strike, the University has contracted with companies that have hired temporary employees to cross picket lines and perform the work of the strikers. This action is illegal,” according to the suit, which was filed Tuesday night in McLean County Circuit Court.
The suit claims the workers could suffer “irreparable” harm if a judge does not take action.
Named as defendants are the university’s board of trustees, University President Aondover Trahule; Glen Nelson, the school’s vice president for finance and planning; Janice Bonneville, the school’s associate vice president for human resources and Angie Doolin, who is the assistant director of employee relations at ISU.
Plaintiffs are the union, Charles Carver, who is the local’s president and the supervisor of Normal Township. Also named are two ISU students who allege they have been affected by the strike, as they live in dorms and eat at dining halls which are staffed by the striking employees.
The strike began April 8 after the university and Local 1110 couldn’t come to a last-minute deal. Workers are seeking higher pay, while university officials have maintained the college’s final offer includes multiple wage increases with hourly rates comparable to those of similar positions at other area businesses.
The union officials allege “ISU has hired at least five temporary labor contractors to perform the work normally performed by AFSCME members.” That, the suit claims, is in violation of state law.
ISU officials released the following statement regarding the lawsuit:
“The University has not received any formal notification from the court regarding this matter. While as a general practice, the University does not comment on pending litigation, it does follow a state procurement process that ensures it is compliant with the law.”
The university’s webpage on the status of talks says it remains committed to “good-faith negotiations” and its “focus remains on reaching a resolution that supports our employees while minimizing disruption to our students’ academic experience.”
The seven-page suit alleges the union wrote to the school on April 15, a week after the strike began, saying the contractors hired violated state law. The suit claims the university did not respond to the union’s letter to Trahule.
This story originated at WMBD TV. The original story can be found online at CIProud.com.
