Unions

Union members with AFSCME said Monday that the GOP's tax and spending plan passed this summer will bring devastating cuts to the Illinois State University community and beyond.

A new union representing employees at Illinois State University’s lab schools hopes to begin negotiating its first contract sometime this fall.

The signing comes after the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined at least three other federal agencies in canceling contracts with unions to comply with President Trump’s March executive order that stripped many federal workers of union protections.

Despite the reputation of Bloomington-Normal as a staid, quiet community with nicknames such as "Borington" and "Insuranceville," the Twin Cities has a long history of protests. While there have been a lot of non-violent political protests around Bloomington-Normal lately, some past actions were not so civil.

An Illinois appeals court wants the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board to take another look at a dispute between Illinois State University and a union representing about 300 campus workers.

IATSE previously accused the organizer of violating its contract with the union and refusing to hire local stagehands, which the union argued created additional safety hazards.

A group of non-union workers at Illinois State University threatened to unionize during Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting. Organizers say over 200 ISU employees have signed a petition asking for raises, in the wake of other collective bargaining on campus.

Educators in ISU’s K-12 lab schools are trying to get recognition for their first union, called the Lab School Education Association. They petitioned for that recognition last summer and recently won a favorable decision from an administrative law judge with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. A full board decision is expected soon.

While a strike may be novel at ISU, academic work stoppages are happening more and more often around the country. Strikes at other campuses give ISU a window into what to expect if it happens here.

For the last few months, Illinois State University and faculty union negotiators have had help from a federal mediator. Contract talks are ongoing, but the future of the mediation service is in doubt.