NORMAL, Ill. (25 News Now) -- The union representing 667 tenured and tenure-track professors has filed an unfair labor complaint against Illinois State University, but the charge is not directly related to the status of contract negotiations, which have lasted for about a year.
Instead, the dispute centers around a so-called “gauntlet” of sign-carrying union members cheering and applauding their bargaining team as they headed into the first session with the federal mediator on Jan. 13, said Adam Heenan, who filed the complaint Thursday with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) on behalf of United Faculty ISU.
About a week ago, Heenan said ISU’s administration sent a notice stating that it had received a noise complaint from the January meeting, violating university policy.
According to Heenan, the university warned it would revoke the union’s right to meet on campus if there’s another violation.
Demonstrations like the one staged by union members at the first mediated session are protected under the Illinois Labor Dispute Act, said Heenan.
An ISU spokesperson released the following statement about the unfair labor practice complaint:
Illinois State University is aware of the charge filed by the United Faculty of ISU chapter of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 (IFT-AFT, AAUP, AFL-CIO) with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) on Feb. 6. The University denies the allegations contained in the charge and looks forward to defending its position before the IELRB.
Tenured and tenure-track teachers are negotiating their first union contract since deciding to organize a year ago.
The two sides have met 38 times since Feb. 28 of last year, including three with the federal mediator. They’ve agreed on 29 issues, but they’re still apart on salary, according to a website created by ISU to present its view of negotiations.
The website said mediated sessions are scheduled for Feb. 10, Feb. 28, March 10, and March 19.
