Union plans strike if UI deal isn't reached in 2 weeks
URBANA -- A union representing food service and building workers at the Urbana campus has announced an intent to strike if it does not reach agreement with the University of Illinois in the next 14 days.
"The University has not bargained in good faith from the beginning," said SEIU field organizer Ricky Baldwin. "We are prepared; we're ready; we have every intention of doing it, unless we can reach an agreement."
Union members will picket at Florida Avenue Residence Hall, the site of the ongoing negotiations, again Tuesday morning.
"The university is basically still focusing on some of the more minor issues and claiming they're making movement," Baldwin said Monday. "But on job security and wage issues, they're not offering us anything we can live with."
The Urbana campus' spokeswoman, Robin Kaler, said it was "regrettable that the Service Employees International Union has chosen to take this action.
"The university consistently has approached these negotiations in good faith and with the intent to reach a mutually beneficial bargaining agreement. We have held negotiation sessions with the federal mediator for both dining service and building service employees, and we had additional sessions scheduled with the mediator for the coming week," she said in an email.
"We've reached agreement on most of the bargaining proposals, and we remain committed to using the collective bargaining process to resolve the remaining issues," she said.
Baldwin said, "I think their actions say otherwise."
He said the UI had canceled some negotiations and moved further away from what the union seeks, as well as changing its negotiators.
He said the union has a particular issue with the use of temporary workers, creating job insecurity for permanent workers.
"Our folks are pretty impatient with the situation. When they need us to serve food or shovel snow, we're necessary, but when it comes to job security, we're expendable," he said.
Local 73, which represents about 800 Urbana campus building and food service workers, requested federal mediation in December.
That mediation began in March.
SEIU get what they deserve, no one can help them! They are the one's that wrote up the last contract and voted to approve it. The best thing that can happen is if you don't want to work under the current contract then go join your friends in the unemployment line. If you want to work show up and do the job that you were hired for. The best thing the University of Illinois can do is FIRE the people on the pick line for not showing up to work or trying to intimidate those that want to work., To keep those that want to earn a pay check. It's not fair to the people that show up and do the job because a few lazy people and forcing them to pay Union Dues. Especially to SEIU the mouth piece of Obummer. Get rid of the SEIU altogether!!!! Get off the pick line and do your job!!!
First of all we have no contract. It expired last year. So yes we worked the contract we signed. The thing is the U of I went back on what they agreed to. A large percentage of us show up everyday to do our jobs. This possible work stoppage is not about wages. It is more about what the U of I wants to take away from us and what they try to get by with. We are not on picket line yet and are trying everyway to work with the U of I. Sounds as if a few more people need to be informed of the facts and not on what they think they know. This isn't about raises, monetary benefits as it is about job security, seniority, invasion of privacy , etc. It is the little things that can mean more than money to make people more receptive to agreement,but U of I doesnt see it this way. So if you know it all about whats going on let's hear it and inform us.
You need to get the information out there!!!! The U of I does not want the public to be aware of the issues. When you bargain there is a give and take to it and all they want to do is take! Hang in there, there are many union members from all over the state, and from many other unions saying good luck!!!!!
SEIU union-National Headquarters Officers and Employees Salaries
http://www.unionfacts.com/unions/unionOfficers.cfm?id=420778
Lets just all work for peanuts.......
I would like to ask...
who established the 5 day work week? who fought for time and half for anything over 40 hours a week,paid holidays,health insurance? It was the UNIONS!!! If you dont like the way unions negotiate for others I suggest you start workin 7 days a week 12 hours a day with no health insurance. Dont bite the hand that has fought for the working rights you have now.
SEIU union-National Headquarters Officers and Employees Salaries
http://www.unionfacts.com/unions/unionOfficers.cfm?id=420778
How are the union employed suppoters paid, with membership dues?
I am not a SEIU member. I am an AFSCME member. Unions made the middle class in this country. Now; they are under assault by the right wingers, and the corporations. The rich only want to get richer as shown by the Koch brothers in Wisconsin. The media is dependent on the money. The majority of news articles portray unions as the bad guy. The uninformed populace especially the less intelligent attack union members as lazy, overpaid employees. If the U of I members strike, it hopefully will be done prior to the end of the semester. To all of the union haters: You do not do the job, or have done the job. Complain about something you know before verbally attacking your neighbor. Anyone can call themselves a Patriot. How about acting like one?
Comments
News-Gazette.com embraces discussion of both community and world issues. We welcome you to contribute your ideas, opinions and comments, but we ask that you avoid personal attacks, vulgarity and hate speech. We reserve the right to remove any comment at our discretion, and we will block repeat offenders' accounts. To post comments, you must first be a registered user, and your username will appear with any comment you post. Happy posting.