Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois, EIU-UPI, active members are taking a vote Wednesday and Thursday to vote on if the union can go on strike after one year of bargaining for a new contract.

Voting is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday in Marvin’s Foyer in Booth Library.

EIU-UPI is the union representing approximately 450 people, which includes Eastern faculty which are tenured or tenure-track, referred to as Unit A, and annually contracted faculty and academic support professionals, referred to as Unit B. 

This includes faculty teaching courses and advisors for students.

EIU-UPI’ s ability to go on strike relies on at least 70 percent of members voting and for 70 percent of those who voted to vote in favor of being able to strike.

If EIU-UPI reaches the votes needed to go on strike, by law, they can not enact the strike until 10 days after the vote results.

If the union goes on strike, students and faculty will be made aware in advance before the strike begins, and all union members will be required to go on strike. 

Only those not in the union or members who resign from the union will be allowed to continue working during the strike. This includes newly hired faculty or department chairs.

Leading up to the possibility of a strike has been an almost year long contract bargain between EIU-UPI’s negotiating team and Eastern’s administration negotiation team.

John Miller, UPI’s president, said the union would like to come to an agreement without a strike.

“Certainly our goal is not to,” Miller said. “Nobody wants to have it, but it’s going to come down to the choice of the institution. Our members are getting frustrated. It’s been more than a year since we’ve been bargaining. We have been bargaining since last March. We’ve been working without a contract since [August]. We are now moving into March again. The institution needs to come with better proposals to the table, and they will know that depending on how our members respond or what’s going on as to whether or not that either [Eastern administration] come with a proposal that’s fair and respectful, or [Eastern’s administration] choose a strike. It’s up to them at this point.”

UPI chapters across Illinois have faced the possibility of a strike in the last year.

University of Illinois Chicago went on a four-day strike before the administration and union reached a contract both sides agreed with.

Chicago State University’s UPI chapter is having their own vote for if they can go on strike. CSU’s vote for a strike started on Wednesday and ends Friday.

The first bargaining meeting occurred on March 21, 2022. 

On Feb. 27, EIU-UPI delivered approximately 1,000 postcards signed by Eastern community members to University President David Glassman to be given to the Board of Trustees. The postcards read “EIU Board of Trustees: Get your priorities right.”

The back said:

“Despite proposing a pay cut for faculty and staff, the EIU Board of Trustees cut a deal to make outgoing President Glassman the highest-paid professor on campus. He will teach one class. EIU students deserve a university that prioritizes them by investing in all faculty and staff (not just President Glassman).”

Students, faculty and staff alike signed a postcard to be delivered to the Board.

In November, EIU-UPI called for a mediator to get involved in the bargaining process. A federal mediator helps both parties to meet an agreement on specific terms or clarify unresolved issues.

In October, EIU-UPI delivered a grievance to Glassman for Eastern’s administration not bargaining in good faith.

Madelyn Kidd can be reached at 581-2812 or at DENeic@gmail.com.