Say NO to pay discrimination at UIC

UIC workers are coming together like never before to say NO to management’s attempt to force us to accept a discriminatory compensation package.

The facts are clear:

-The University of Illinois is insisting that UIC workers accept contracts with no guaranteed general wage and salary increases for 2018 and 2019.

-The UI management is saying that we must agree to 4-year contracts with only one wage increase of 2% on February 26, 2017 for the whole 4 years of the contracts. If we DON’T agree to that, they say they won’t even give us the 2% that other UIC workers got earlier this year.

-But at UI-Champaign-Urbana the same UI system has given similar workers more than 2% for 2016-2017 plus guaranteed raises in every year of their new contract including 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

-Our 4 bargaining committees have each told management that they believe there is NO EXCUSE for DENYING workers at UIC -who are predominantly members of minority groups – the same raises that have already been given to workers at UI Champaign-Urbana where the overwhelming majority of the workforce is white. We’ve also pointed out that the cost of living is much higher in Chicago than it is there.

-We fought for years to win parity for workers at UIC and end the institutional racism of substandard pay on our campuses.

We refuse to accept the UI’s demand that we go backwards now.

WE’RE TAKING ACTION:

1. UIC workers are signing a petition protesting this injustice. If you haven’t signed, see a member of our committee, click here, or visit http://seiu73.seiu.org/UIPetition

2. If you’ve already signed, join UIC workers who are leading this fight – planning more actions. We will meet every Thursday at 2:30PM and 5:30PM at our SEIU office at 300 S. Ashland Ave., 3^rd floor. We are in it to win it!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

Under the Education Labor Relations Act, talking union and circulating our petition (as long as we don’t interfere with work) is considered “protected concerted activity.” Here’s a direct quote:

(115 ILCS 5/3) (from Ch. 48, par. 1703) Sec. 3. Employee rights.

(a) It shall be lawful for educational employees to organize, form, join, or assist in employee organizations or engage in lawful concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid

(115 ILCS 5/14) (from Ch. 48, par. 1714) Sec. 14. Unfair labor practices.

(a) Educational employers, their agents or representatives are prohibited from:
(1) Interfering, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under this Act.

This applies to ALL workers including those non-citizens here on visas. If you believe your rights have been violated, email our union at Info@SEIU73.org.