CHARLESTON, Ill. (WAND) - AFSCME members have voted to ratify the agreement with Eastern Illinois University.
The union said the new contract will mean wage increases and parental leave for university employees.
After nine months of bargaining and picketing that involved a federal mediator, a new union contract has been agreed upon.
About 180 EIU building service, clerical, food service and other workers are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 981.
“For nine months, we stayed united and fought hard for long overdue wage increases and crucial benefits for ourselves and our families. Together we won an agreement that takes important steps in the right direction,” said Kim Pope, an office manager in the EIU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the president of AFSCME Local 981. “We’re committed to supporting students and the whole campus community. This contract will allow us to keep doing that, by ensuring the improved wages and benefits we deserve.”
AFSCME members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the agreement at worksite meetings held Wednesday.
University trustees are expected to approve it at their April meeting.
The contract raises wages by 15 to 24% across the board over its four-year term, with the lowest-paid employees seeing an immediate 13% increase as minimum pay goes to $16 (it was $13.72 before Jan. 1).
The agreement also provides four weeks of paid parental leave (previously the university offered none), restores parity pay for clerical-technical employees, strengthens worker protections against harassment on the job, and allows more leeway for remote work where possible.
A recent study by the University of Illinois and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute showed that public university employees are paid 21 percent less than their counterparts in state government who do the same jobs.
“Together in our union we’re fighting for fair pay and good benefits for every university employee,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said. “When state universities are good places to work, they’re better places to learn.”
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