Unions

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.

Hours after its faculty union voted to authorize a strike, Illinois State University said Friday that it’s initiated “academic contingency planning activities” to minimize disruption if a work stoppage occurs.

Bloomington-Normal unions hosted a candidates night to hear from many of the candidates who will be on the ballot April 1. Union delegates endorsed Cody Hendricks for Bloomington mayor, but did not endorse in Normal's mayoral race.

The Starbucks store at the Shoppes at College Hills in Normal has formally voted to unionize.

A Starbucks store in Normal could join the more than 500 locations for the coffee giant that have unionized.