NIU workers overcome management opposition to win fair contract

Members of AFSCME Local 963, which represents nearly 170 building and food service workers at Northern Illinois University, kept their foot on the gas pedal throughout a year-long contract campaign, taking vigorous action every step of the way. In the end, their efforts paid off, winning a contract that affords them the respect their contributions to NIU deserve.

They spoke out at every meeting of the university board of trustees during the time they were negotiating. With each passing meeting without an agreement, they brought more and more union members out until they dominated the public comment period of the board meetings.

“We are led to believe that the department managers and university labor relations people are in control of this process, but at the end of the day, it’s the board of trustees who signs the contract,” said Patrick Sheridan, Local 963’s president. “We wanted to go straight to the source and put the pressure on them directly. They have the power—and they’re the ones who need to address the issues we brought to them.”

Local 963 members also made sure the student body was engaged in their fight. The NIU student newspaper covered their actions and spread their message throughout campus. Before and after their work shifts, union members leafletted students to let them know how their university was behaving in contract negotiations.

“Every student we interacted with was disgusted with NIU,” Sheridan said. “You don’t expect to pay as much as these kids do for tuition, and then find out the university employees are living on poverty wages.”

Their last contract was ratified in 2018—well before the times of COVID and high inflation. At NIU—like many other state universities where AFSCME members work—low wages had become a serious problem and created untenable financial situations for many workers.

For the building service workers who keep the campus buildings in tip-top shape, addressing the decline in university-provided uniforms was also a big issue. The uniforms used to instill a sense of pride, but the university kept cutting corners until their uniforms consisted of nothing but a cheap white t-shirt—not to mention the university didn’t provide jackets, even though building service workers are the ones shoveling snow when blizzards roll through DeKalb.

The result is an agreement that raises wages by a minimum of 20% over the five-year contract. They made significant progress in closing the wage gap between longer-serving employees and new hires.

They also accomplished a number of other important wins, like strengthening overtime and call-in language and establishing more safety training. BSWs came out in the end with an agreement that full uniforms—including winter jackets—will be provided to all employees who need them.

The contract was ratified unanimously.

“It’s a really strong contract,” said building service chapter chair and bargaining committee member Paul Knigge. “This is the second time I’ve helped negotiate a contract, and this go-around was far more uplifting and gratifying. We know the members are with it 100%.”

The Local 963 bargaining committee included Sheridan, Knigge, Jason Williams, Aaron Sebourn, Jessica Brown, Denise Franklin, Adam Harper, Andy Peccarelli, Priscilla Kapraun, Aaron Robertson and Michael Merrill. The committee was led by Council 31 Staff Representative Rick Surber.