SYNOPSIS:

By an overwhelming majority, the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition Local #6546’s members  have voted to prepare for a possible strike in the near future. The vote authorizes the union’s leaders to form a strike committee and to call for labor action before the end of the semester.

While no plans for labor action have been finalized, the leaders of Local #6546 will now file a notice of intent to strike with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, and state agencies  as required under law.

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NTT Union Members Vote for Strike Authorization

• Download printable Strike Authorization Presser (.docx)

By an overwhelming majority, the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition Local #6546’s members have voted to prepare for a possible strike in the near future. The vote authorizes the union’s leaders to form a strike committee and to call for labor action before the end of the semester.

“We have negotiated with the administration for eighteen months,” declared NTFC’s lead negotiator Kay Emmert, “but we have made minimal progress, despite the involvement of a Federal mediator. Our door is always open, but it now looks that we will have to take a different path to reach a contract.”

“The union is always ready to meet with the University’s bargaining team, with or without the guidance of the Federal mediator to move the negotiations forward expeditiously,” stated Union President Shawn Gilmore. “Our members firmly stand behind our bargaining team, but they recognize that we may have to engage in more direct actions to make our voices heard loud and clear.”

NTFC Local #6546 represents approximately 500 full-time teaching, research and clinical faculty at UIUC, the majority of whom are signed members. In the past year and a half, the union’s core proposals have centered on improved employment security, opportunity for promotion and professional support, and the protection of academic freedom for non-tenure track faculty members. In addition to these, the union is asking for modest salary improvements for all non-tenure faculty, for whom pay has been frozen since 2014.

The union is proposing these changes in order to promote greater stability for faculty and a better educational experience at the University of Illinois for students. “We cannot present ourselves as a world-class institution to our students if almost 20% of the faculty have only one-year contracts and little opportunity for advancement or professional support,” stated Dorothee Schneider, communications chair of the union.

The University administration has rejected these proposals since negotiations began.

While no plans for labor action have been finalized, the leaders of Local #6546 AFT/IFT/AAUP will now file a notice of intent to strike with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, the Illinois Labor Relations Board and the State’s Regional Office of Education as required under law.

Media Contacts:

• Shawn Gilmore (217) 778 2925
• Dorothee Schneider (217) 390 8725

Web: https://www.local6546.org/
Facebook: NTFC Local 6546

The News-Gazette has covered our planned vote on strike authorization.

“About 500 University of Illinois faculty members who aren’t part of the tenure system plan to take a strike authorization vote next week. Members of the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition Local 6546 say two sessions with federal mediator Conrad Bowling this week failed to advance negotiations with the university, and he isn’t available to meet again until April 27.”

Read the rest of the article here.

Lining the hallway to greet Board of Trustees as they enter their meeting March 16, 2016

Christina De Angelo (left), Instructor of Spanish, delivered 600+ postcards to the Board of Trustees. The secretary thanked us for our professionalism. That’s right, we’re professionals. #faircontractnow

 

5 times we asked to address the Board, 5 times they said no! Don’t silence faculty! — with Sara Miriam.

 Marching during the Board of Trustees Meeting.

Bright and early Wednesday morning dozens of NTFC members gathered at the Illini Union to greet members of the Board of the Trustees as they entered their March meeting. While the BOT was in closed session, we marched silently through the quad, returning to the room for the open comment period.

Repeatedly silenced by the Administration, who have “no interest” in our work conditions, we took silence as today’s theme. We stood in silent protest in the meeting until the Secretary of the Board took delivery of over 600 postcards signed by members and supporters, explaining why NTFC needs a contract, now. Wednesday’s action was symbolic and strong, but don’t expect us to fade away quietly–chances are good that next time, we will make some noise.

As we enter into mediation at the end of the month, we will be holding silent marches, as well as tabling, to inform and involve faculty, staff, students and the community in our fight for a fair contract.