AFSCME Local 1110

The AFSCME Local 1110 president spoke at Friday's ISU Board of Trustees meeting. He said workers are glad to be back at work but are still upset with university leadership. ISU's president said none of the administration viewed the negotiations are personal.

AFSCME said more than 95% of the 300-plus affected workers who cast votes approved the deal.

An ISU spokesperson said university administration contacted the federal mediator Thursday morning to indicate their willingness to resume negotiations with AFSCME Local 1110. ISU says the session with the mediator is planned for Monday.

The union representing building, grounds and dining workers at Illinois State attempted to gain a temporary restraining order preventing the university from contracting janitorial services during a work stoppage. A judge denied the request.

Gov. JB Pritzker said he wants Illinois State University and the AFSCME union to come back to the negotiating table as the strike enters its fourth week. "It seems like there is a deal to be made," he said.

Dining and grounds workers say the financial squeeze of going weeks without pay is making it tough for them to get by. Union members have been on strike since April 8.

Glen Nelson, vice president of finance and planning at Illinois State University, said the union and ISU continue to have three sticking points concerning back pay and future salary raises. ISU has said it has already offered the union its best and final deal.

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.

On day 17 of the AFSCME Local 1110 strike, union representatives presented the president of Illinois State University with nearly 7,000 petition signatures urging his negotiation of a fair deal. A state senator on campus said the strike is "putting pressure on us as legislators as well."

At an Illinois House committee hearing in Springfield on Thursday, Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule requested more state funding as striking employees also in attendance claimed ISU was not negotiating with them in good faith.