Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Another rally in support of striking faculty members and support staff at the University of Illinois Springfield is getting the attention of an area lawmaker who may be able to help them, in a way.

On what was said to be another day of bargaining between administrators and the UIS United Faculty union, State Rep. Carol Ammons joined the rank and file, while in Springfield for the legislative session.  She’s lead sponsor of the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act — a measure the University of Illinois, a school she represents in Champaign-Urbana — has opposed.  One of the complaints of striking faculty here is that UIUC is getting most of the system’s funding, and UIS gets relatively little.

“Thank you for supporting the equitable funding model,” Ammons (D-Urbana) told the faculty.  “We are one of, maybe, eight states, eight, that do not have a funding formula.  Because of that, you all have seen not only the students’ inability to keep up with the cost to attend, but your inability to keep up with the cost to work here.”

Union members are reportedly being offered a one percent pay raise — significantly less than the cost of living.  For some faculty and staff, that may only equate to about 16 cents per hour.

“You are not just paying for fair pay and respect, though you absolutely deserve both,” said Cyndi Oberle-Dahm, Secretary-Treasurer, Illinois Federation of Teachers.  “You are once again fighting for the future of this university and the community.  What the administration and Chancellor (Janet Gooch) are doing and giving you — this lack of respect, this 16 cents — is so absolutely demoralizing.”

UIS United Faculty isn’t the only union allegedly getting a hard time from the administration at UIS.  Support staff workers — caterers, maintenance employees, and office staff — say they are, too.

“When we presented to (Gooch) our current wages here at UIS, she looked at the sheet compared to every other state entity…that we do the same jobs for, and she goes, ‘Oooh.  That’s not good.’  But, here we are,” said Tom Gebhardt, president, UIS Support Staff union.

Gebhardt says Gooch, in their ten months of talks, has gone from, in his words, sympathetic, to pathetic.

The university contends strikes aren’t necessary.

A bargaining session between the union and the administration was being held Wednesday.