Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The University of Illinois Springfield United Faculty Union says the administration of the University has spent the last eleven months not negotiating in good faith. So, tenure-track faculty are officially on strike.

Two weeks after voting to authorize a strike, the union decided to walk starting at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

“The administration of this university has not been valuing its students,” said Dathan Powell, chair, who describes the last eleven months as “unproductive.”  “It values its students when it invests in its faculty, in its staff, and in its institution itself.”

Powell and the union have claimed that the vast majority of the money taken in by the University of Illinois system has gone to the Champaign-Urbana campus, and not to Springfield or elsewhere.  Some of the money that does come in, he alleges, is spent on university “pet projects,” and on raises for administration.

Professors were joined in striking Friday morning by family members including their children, along with university students.  They were even joined by State Senator Doris Turner for time.

“Your work is not easy, but you are so dedicated to it,” said Turner (D-Springfield), to the strikers.  “But, you have families. You have obligations.  And, in order for you to do this work, you have to have a living wage.  You have to be able to put bread to the table.  You have to be able to put gas in your car to get out here to UIS.”

Several students also spoke at a news conference Friday, including Nick Marquez, who is a few months away from going to law school.

“(There are) so many professors here that I could share stories of, who have helped me become the scholar I am today,” said Marquez.  “Those professors enabled the quiet confidence that I now carry, that was once asphyxiated by doubt in my own capabilities.”

UIS student Adi Rumler speaks during a news conference about a strike Friday, April 3.
UIS student Adi Rumler speaks during a news conference about a strike Friday, April 3. (Will Stevenson)

Adi Rumler also plans on going to law school, focusing on family law, when her time at UIS is done.

“(Professors) have been stellar in every facet of the word,” said Rumler.  “They’ve showed up in my life time and time again, as highly-qualified academics who are skilled at bringing the very best work out of every individual.”

Rumler says yes, that includes plenty of times where her own work needed to be redone.

UIS administration issued the statement below Friday in response to the strike.

“The University of Illinois Springfield respects the right of the UPI Local 4100 tenured and tenure-track faculty to choose a work stoppage, but is disappointed that union members have chosen this course of action. Our faculty colleagues play a valuable role on our campus and contribute meaningfully to the student experience. The University and the Union have met for 18 bargaining sessions, including a 10-hour session last (Thursday) night, where we communicated our readiness and willingness to continue meeting in mediation. We remain hopeful the union will return to the table so negotiations can continue. UIS is committed to supporting students who are affected by the faculty’s decision to participate in a work stoppage and has plans in place to minimize the impact to them. The University continues to work toward a fair and fiscally responsible contract that serves the entire university community and hopes to reach a timely agreement with the Union.”

UIS points to THIS WEBSITE which they claim has the latest negotiation information.  The union points to THIS WEBSITE for their side.