EIU Media Relations

EIU offers detailed statement on March 24 Intent to Strike filing

On March 24^th, Eastern Illinois University (University) received a Ten-Day Notice of Intent to Strike from the University Professionals of Illinois, Local 4100, IFT-AFT (UPI), the Union representing full time faculty, lecturers and other UPI represented staff.  The filing of the Ten-Day Notice does not mean that a strike will definitely occur; however, it does allow UPI to take the employees it represents out on strike any time after April 4^th in the event the parties are unable to reach agreement at the bargaining table.

The University and UPI have been in negotiations for approximately one year with negotiation sessions over the last three months being conducted under the direction of a federal mediator.  Throughout negotiations, the University has bargained in good faith in an effort to meet UPI’s demands as well as control the cost of higher education for EIU students.  Although the parties have reached agreement on several key issues such as parental leave, clarifying the sabbatical language, and are endeavoring to create a potential new promotion pathway for certain employees, the University and UPI remain far apart on economic issues.   UPI’s last economic proposal would cost the University well over $10 million during the proposed four-year term of the agreement. 

The University’s current offer substantially exceeds the financial packages contained in prior collective bargaining agreements between the parties going back to 2010.  Further, since 2010, when overall UPI bargaining unit member compensation is considered, the salary pool assigned to UPI members has outperformed inflation.  For example, the combined salaries of 139 tenured or tenure-track faculty who have remained at EIU increased roughly 40% between fiscal years 2010 and 2022. Similarly, the salary pool for annually contracted faculty (n=36) and 19 ASPs increased 47% and 52%, respectively between FY10 and FY22. During this same period of time, the University has not overcome the net deficits experienced over the past decade—including those from the years of the State budget crisis.

In negotiations, UPI points to the University’s reported $9 million surplus from last fiscal year as evidence that the University can afford the significant additional cost of its proposal.  However, $2 million of that surplus was in funds specifically designated for non-academic purposes and another $1.7 million was the result of unfilled vacancies that the University hopes to fill.  Additionally, part of the surplus was the result of an end of year state appropriation that was unable to be included in the FY22 budget plan; but these monies have now been fully deployed in FY23 to fund non-negotiated salary adjustments, scholarships, expanded staffing, and much needed deferred maintenance.  Another contributor to the surplus, tuition growth due to an unanticipated increase in international students, is of questionable long-term sustainability because the spike in international student enrollments is uncertain.  Given this uncertainty and the forecasted demographic cliff facing all universities, the University needs to continue to be focused on financial stability.

Despite these challenges, the University remains hopeful that through good faith negotiations a strike may be avoided.  The University is committed to negotiating a fair contract that recognizes the dedication and needs of our faculty and staff while ensuring the University's long-term financial health and the continued provision of the high-quality education our students deserve.