Illinois State University's unionized buildings, grounds and dining services workers said Thursday they've voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike as contract negotiations drag on.
AFSCME Local 1110, which represents around 350 workers, is seeking higher wages and a provision to receive wage increases when nonunion workers receive higher increases. Negotiations have continued since April 2025 on a new deal — over 29 negotiating sessions — to replace the previous contract that expired in June.
The union says 97% of ballots cast in Tuesday's vote were in favor of a strike. A strike authorization does not guarantee the employee will go on strike, though it opens that possibility.
“President Tarhule, your time to do the right thing is running out,” said Chuck Carver, union president. “We are united and determined to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract we deserve."
The union on Thursday delivered a 10-day notice of its intent to strike. If no contract is reached when that 10-day notice period expires April 8, the union bargaining committee can call a strike at any time afterward. A strike would stop all work for these workers, like building cleaning, food preparation and groundskeeping. The workers previously campaigned for a new contract in 2019 and narrowly avoided a strike in 2022, and they say they have not received a pay increase since July 2024.
“ISU believes that taking a strike authorization vote is a normal process of bargaining,” said Renee Nestler, AFSCME staff representative. “ISU has set up to be so. It's unnecessary, and all it does is strain current labor and management relationships that we would like to improve, but they're pushing us to the brink again, and so it's highly frustrating.”
Carver said Illinois State rejected proposals from the union bargaining team. Union members overwhelmingly rejected an offer from ISU that the university called its “last, best and final offer.”
At this time, the parties have not scheduled additional mediation dates, ISU officials said Thursday. ISU said it's "initiated contingency planning activities to ensure minimal disruption to university operations should a strike occur."
“Illinois State has worked, and will continue to work diligently to reach a fair and fiscally responsible contract agreement that addresses concerns raised by AFSCME,” said ISU spokesperson Chris Coplan in a statement. “We are also committed to the principle that the University must remain fiscally prudent, resilient, and sustainable for the long term. This means, we must balance expenditures against revenues and strive to offer competitive wages, all while seeking to remain affordable for students and families.”
ISU gave background on the details of its most recent offer on a webpage providing updates to negotiations. Highlights included annual wage increases for all employees in the bargaining unit over the five years of the contract, plus a one-time $350 lump sum payment for successful ratification of the deal. The contract would not have included retroactive pay, something the union wants. Because of the absence of retro pay, the first increase would have come at ratification and the next would have been July 1. It would have also included a 30% increase in shift referrals for second-shift workers and a 50% increase for overnight workers.
The standoff between AFSCME and ISU is only the latest labor tension on campus in recent years, amid a flurry of organizing activity. A year ago ISU and its new faculty union reached a last-minute deal to avoid a strike.
