Bargaining Blog 11.2.22

 This session brings us closer to wrapping up our non-economic proposals! We are excited to move on to the next phase of bargaining very soon. In this most recent session, we counterproposed on:


  • Union Membership and Dues: we continue to negotiate over whether the University will process deductions when employees have opted to contribute to COPE, which is SEIU’s political action committee. COPE funds support legislative efforts to improve workers’ rights in Illinois and nationally. We consider an elective deduction of this sort to be no more difficult to process than those the University already processes for payroll deductions for transit cards, parking passes, or the NU Cares fund.

  • Furloughs and Layoffs: we continue to negotiate over the amount of notice required for furloughs or layoffs. We strongly feel that represented workers deserve more than a few days notice when furloughs or layoffs are planned. The union would also like more notice so that we have time to negotiate with the university over alternatives to reduction in force, extension of benefits, etc.


While we were not able to reach a tentative agreement on either of these proposals, we feel we are very close to an agreement on both. 


Towards the end of the session, members of the bargaining committee opened up a discussion on the lack of a path to promotion at the library, focusing on the experience of non-librarian staff. Members of the committee spoke about how the lack of opportunity at the library causes folks to feel frustrated and unappreciated, contributing to low morale and an inability to retain staff. At the end of our presentation, we shared stories from union members who have felt stuck in their library jobs despite efforts to move up within the organization. There was not much time for the university to respond to our presentation during this session, but we hope that they recognize these issues have an impact on everyone in the library, not just union members, and will be willing to work with us on solutions in future sessions.


Finally, don’t forget to vote in the upcoming election! There are many important items on the ballot, but we draw your attention especially to the Workers’ Rights Amendment. We hope that as union members you will be voting YES to guarantee workers the right to organize.


As always, we ask that you continue to show your support for our union by wearing buttons and changing Zoom backgrounds to our union logo. The stronger the union, the better the contract! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with the latest updates.

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