UIS faculty call for stability

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2017

 

 

UIS faculty call for stability

Union urges administration to work together, settle fair contract – “Two years is enough.”

SPRINGFIELD – After nearly twenty months of negotiations, University of Illinois-Springfield (UIS) United Faculty have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike vote, giving the union the ability to call a strike if a settlement cannot be reached. UIS UF believes that the University’s failure to take meaningful steps in negotiations harms students and takes away from the teaching-centered mission of UIS. Faculty is calling on the administration to work together and settle a fair contract.

“Two years is enough. A settled contract would bring much-needed stability to our faculty and students, especially in a time when Governor Rauner’s budget cuts to higher education are already creating so much uncertainty,” said Lynn Fisher, Associate Professor of Anthropology and President of UIS United Faculty.

Union leadership continues to be hopeful that the University administration will make efforts to avoid a strike.

“This isn’t a step we take lightly. Faculty members come to UIS because we want to be in the classroom, providing a high quality, affordable education to our students,” said Kristi Barnwell, Associate Professor of History and Vice President of UIS United Faculty. “These protracted negotiations only demonstrate a lack of respect for the work we do with our students every day.”

UIS United Faculty is a chapter of University Professionals of Illinois (UPI), IFT Local 4100, which represents 3,000 faculty, staff, and graduate students at seven public universities in Illinois. UIS UF was certified on February 13, 2015.

 

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UPI Local 4100/UIS United Faculty

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