AFSCME Local 370 wins new contract at SIU School of Medicine

When AFSCME Local 370 began bargaining for a new contract at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU-SOM) in April 2025, members were clear on their goals: better wages, plus longevity raises for the school’s longest-tenured employees. And sure enough, after months of hard bargaining, members ratified a new contract that includes strong wage increases and a first-ever longevity system that rewards employees for their years of service.

Management initially refused to offer fair wages for members, insisting that, as health care workers, employee pay would be determined by a market analysis of titles—even if they’d worked at the school for a decade or more.

“We needed to show them that what makes the SIU-SOM work is not just the six-figure doctors—it’s all of us,” said AFSCME Local 370 President Gina Darden. “It’s the nurses, the front desk workers, the call center workers. We had to make them understand that keeping this place running as well as it does takes all of us.” 

Members of Local 370 sprang into action to make sure management got that message. Dozens attended an SIU Board of Trustees meeting in June, where members spoke about the need for improved, livable wages. 

But management still wasn’t hearing it, so “we had to show we weren’t willing to back down,” Darden said.

The local organized a large rally and informational picket, where students and faculty joined the workers in calling out management’s meager proposals.

Their dedication and determination worked. The picket sent the message they wanted to send. Within a matter of weeks, they reached an agreement on a new contract. 

The new contract doubles the amount of money in members’ pockets compared to management’s initial proposal. Some members will see wage increases as high as 14%. 

They also won their first-ever paid parental leave policy, plus paid time off to vote.

Led by Council 31 Staff Representative Matthew Whalen, the bargaining committee included Gina Darden, Terri Williams, Amanda French, Stacy Miller, Merrick Ermann-Schiave, Michelle Barnes and Rachael Stark.