Illinois State University officials on Friday acknowledged using external companies to perform custodial and grounds work on campus during the AFSCME strike, a claim that the union contends in a lawsuit is a violation of state law.
ISU officials maintain they are in compliance with hiring and procurement laws.
The AFSCME Council 31 has sued the university, alleging it has broken the state's Strikebreakers Act which states that “no person shall knowingly employ any professional strikebreaker in the place of an employee, whose work has ceased as a direct consequence of a lockout or strike.”
Approximately 350 building, grounds and food service workers with AFSCME Local 1110 have been on strike since April 8 in a dispute over pay.
ISU spokesperson Chris Coplan said the university was officially served with the lawsuit Friday. He said the lawsuit seeks to “restrict the university’s ability to utilize external companies performing custodial and grounds work on campus.”
He said the university's use of these companies is legal.
“These external companies are not strikebreakers — they are well-established, local businesses that perform custodial and grounds work in and around our local community every day,” Coplan said. “We plan to vigorously defend our position in this meritless lawsuit.”
The lawsuit, filed this week in McLean County court, contends ISU has hired at least five contractors to perform work typically done by AFSCME members. The lawsuit names four cleaning contractors it claims are working on campus: Rozalado & Co., Go Green Commercial Cleaning, 4M Building Solutions and Reiko.
The lawsuit maintains the hiring of external companies during the work stoppage unlawfully gives the university greater leverage in the union’s contract dispute.
“There is a public interest in an even-handed balance of power between labor and management,” said Anders Lindall with the AFSCME Council 31.
ISU President Aondover Tarhule denied the university was breaking any laws when asked about it during a state legislative hearing in Springfield on Thursday.
AFSCME also delivered petitions with about 7,000 signatures to Tarhule’s office on Friday. Tarhule also held a brief impromptu meeting with state Sen. Dave Koehler and state Rep. Sharon Chung, who have sided with the striking employees.
