AFSCME University Member Update: Winter 2025

At the bargaining table: Pushing for better pay and benefits

Our previous bulletin reported on the strong new contract agreements won by members of AFSCME Local 3236 at Illinois State University in Normal. Since then, several local unions have pushed forward in their fights for fairness at the bargaining table.

At UIUC, members of AFSCME Locals 698 and 3700 have been in negotiations since last spring. The union has made progress on some fronts, but is still working to win wage increases that keep pace with the cost of living and reflect the value of members’ experience and commitment to the university.

In Carbondale, AFSCME Local 878 represents employees who do culinary work in the residence halls and those who maintain and repair university vehicles. At the bargaining table since September, the union is making strides but still pushing for fair wages before a final deal can be done.

In Chicago, progress is slow for members of AFSCME Local 1989 at Northeastern Illinois University. The union bargaining team has had productive conversations across the table in areas like expanded parental leave, an improved shift differential, better educational benefits, and adding meetings with university president to the labor-management process, but management is dragging its feet instead of actually signing off on these items. The AFSCME bargaining committee is also pushing to eliminate the unfair salary grade structure and has developed a trove of research to back up its proposals, but has been met by sloppy and inaccurate counterproposals from the administration. The local is ramping up its member engagement efforts to help turn up the heat.

In Springfield, bargaining continues at UIS, while preparations are underway to negotiate a new agreement at the SIU School of Medicine. The primary concern for members of both locals is raising wages.

Legislative preview: University minimum wage?

In the new legislative session, AFSCME Council 31’s lobbying team will focus efforts on two bills of particular importance to state university employees.

One is new legislation that would set a minimum wage for non-instructional workers at state universities. They do essential jobs—cleaning and maintaining buildings and grounds, preparing and serving food, performing clerical work that supports faculty and students, and more—but make 21 percent less than comparable jobs in state agencies. A wage floor would improve living standards for the lowest-paid workers, allow universities to better attract and retain employees, and raise pay for all.

The other is a renewed version of a bill making clear that universities can offer employee rights and protections greater than those provided by the State University Civil Service System—in other words, clarifying that SUCSS protections are the minimum from which our union can negotiate up. Similar legislation sponsored by Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington) and Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) passed the House last spring but didn’t get a vote in the Senate.

Fixing Tier 2: Keep up the fight!

In November, thousands of union members rallied at the state Capitol to demand passage of the Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act—sponsored by Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora)—which would improve the inadequate Tier 2 pension benefits now offered to public employees hired after 2010.

Then on Jan. 6, our We Are One Illinois coalition of unions drove thousands of phone calls to legislators’ offices, sending the same message of support for pension fairness.

Unfortunately, the General Assembly adjourned without advancing the bill. That means we have to renew our campaign when lawmakers convene their new session later this month.

Essentially, the intensity of our efforts was outweighed by legislators’ fear of the state’s projected budget deficit, the undetermined cost of our legislation and the possible concerns of bond rating agencies. The question we heard repeatedly was, “How will the state pay for these changes?”

In response, our union coalition has made very clear that we’re prepared to support measures for new revenue. Our rally showed our unity; our calls and emails proved we’re prepared to take action. Now we’ve got to keep pension fairness on lawmakers’ agenda, so get ready for another round in this very tough fight!

In their sights?

As the new Trump administration takes office, many of its high-level appointees are notoriously hostile to public services and the employees who provide them. Perhaps most disturbing is the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency”, a budget-slashing exercise led by anti-union billionaire Elon Musk.

While it would be easy to sit back and say, “We don’t work for the federal government; state universities aren’t in DOGE's sights”, that might be very misguided. The new administration's hostility to public programs, regulations and workers could easily spill over onto us. And the spending they aim to decimate could include funding for state governments and higher education, such as Pell Grants.

AFSCME lobbyists at the Capitol in Washington are keeping a close watch for any efforts to cut funding for state universities, and Council 31’s legislative team here in Illinois will make sure that our members of Congress are prepared to stand up for us.