Illinois State University and AFSCME Local 1110 reach tentative agreement

NORMAL, Ill. (WAND) - Illinois State University and AFSCME Local 1110 have reached a tentative agreement.

More than 300 ISU building, grounds and dining services employees have been on strike for around a month while asking for better pay.

They have not received a raise in 2 years.

A tentative agreement was reached during the sixth meeting with a federal mediator on Monday, May 4.

Details of the agreement will not be released until after ratification has been done.

A lawsuit was filed at the end of April in McLean County Circuit Court by AFSCME Council 31, the union representing the striking workers.

Plaintiffs include ISU students, the Normal Township supervisor, and the local union president who is an ISU building service worker.

The lawsuit claims that "to gain leverage to 'win' the strike, the University has contracted with companies that have hired temporary employees to cross picket lines and perform the work of the strikers. This action is illegal. It violates the 2004 amendments to the Employment of Strikebreakers Act, which prohibit employers from replacing strikers by entering into contracts with companies in the business of providing day and temporary labor."

AFSCME said it has identified at least four private, for-profit companies with which ISU has contracted for strikebreakers. It said some were hired at higher rates of pay than the striking ISU employees receive.

The plaintiffs asked the court to issue a permanent injunction barring the University from hiring strikebreakers.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Treasurer Michael Frerichs spoke out previously, calling on Illinois State University administration to settle a contract with union staff.