UIC Academic Professionals

Thousands of your coworkers throughout UIC have already signed up, and they’ve fought for better wages and working conditions. Now’s the time for Academic Professionals to win collective bargaining rights and have a voice on the job. Signing up is easy!

We’re Here

• SEIU Local 73 represents over 4,000 workers at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
• Academic professionals are the only UIC employees without a voice on the job. Join your colleagues today!

How to Sign Up

• Simply fill out the card using the button or scanning QR code below

What It Means For You

• Once a majority of academic professionals have joined SEIU Local 73, we will petition for legal recognition by the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Then we can begin the bargaining process with management.

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Who is an Academic Professional? 

Academic Professionals perform professional or technical work and are exempted from the protections of the State University Civil Service System. Academic Advisors, Researchers, Scientists, Program or Project Coordinators and Coaches are among the job titles held by Academic Professionals. 

Who does SEIU Local 73 represent at UIC? 

SEIU Local 73 represents 4,000 employees in the Professional, Clerical, Technical and Service bargaining units at UIC.  Local 73 also represents higher education employees at the UIUC, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Loyola, City Colleges, SIU, Knox College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Morton Community College, Illinois State, Governors State, and Chicago State University.  SEIU represents over 120,000 higher education employees across the nation. 

How do we form our own union with SEIU Local 73? 

University employees will secure legal recognition of our union with a showing of a majority of Academic Professional employees on our membership cards.  The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board will certify our majority and codify our legal right to collective bargaining.  The first step is to join today, and then talk to your colleagues about joining as well. 

Our colleagues are currently in negotiations with UIC, and we want to organize quickly to join them as soon as possible! 

How much will salaries increase once we win the union?  

Raises, pay ranges, longevity steps and lanes are all bargained based on what Academic Professionals determine is needed and are united to win.  Our union siblings at UIC have won minimum across the board raises, or the campus raise guaranteed, step increases based on longevity, and some have decided to keep some form of merit increase as well. APs across the country have also negotiated salary lanes based on degree and experience. 

My position is grant funded, how can a collective bargaining agreement impact those in my position?  What about those positions contracted year to year? 

While your position may be grant-funded, you are an employee of the University and can bargain the same wages, working conditions, and benefits as those who are not grant-funded.  AP contracts around the country have ensured job security for those whose position is grant-funded; for example, if funding is reduced or lost, the University is obligated to place you in a comparable position.  

Are Academic Professionals part of the State University Retirement System?  How can we get the University pension benefit? 

Under state statute, all APs should be covered by the SURS pension benefits.  If you believe you do not have this benefit, please contact SURS immediately and let your organizer know if you need support. 

Academic Professionals don’t get the guaranteed campus raise, instead, our departments get increased funding, and the department heads decide who gets what increase.  Will that change when we have a union? 

Academic Professionals will determine, in a democratic manner, what to change and what to maintain about your current employment conditions.  We know a majority of employees want to see pay equity, objectivity and fairness in the way salaries are determined. 

I am a part-time employee; will I be able to join the union?  

Any Academic Professional that works more than 20 hours a week is eligible to be in our union. 

Are there any other contracts you can share with me while I do my research? 

You can access all SEIU Local 73 contracts on our website, but remember, the members of that bargaining unit decided what they needed in their union contract, and it does not necessarily indicate what APs want and are united to win. 

What will be the total of my monthly dues be?  

No one pays dues until we have negotiated, and APs have ratified our union contract (including wage increases).  Dues are 1.35% of your salary, with a cap of no more than $80 a month.  The campus raise that is guaranteed to Civil Service System employees this year is 4%, well above any dues amount. 

Will I get in trouble for asking my colleagues to sign a Membership Card? 

Your right to organize your colleagues, including asking them to join the union and sign the membership card, is protected by law.  Your employee cannot interfere, discourage or retaliate against union organizers and supporters.  We do advise that you ask your colleagues to sign their membership card during lunch or a work break. 

Are there any legal restrictions regarding when I can speak to my colleagues about joining the union?  

You can speak about the union at any time.  The rule of thumb is that if you can talk about your pets, or sports, you can talk about the union! 

When will we have a union meeting?  

The next general meeting of Academic Professional will take place on Wednesday, November 1.  However, you can organize a union meeting in your building, just reach out to your organizer directly or by emailing our Organizing Director Eduardo Victoria at evictoria@seiu73.org. 

How long will the process of getting a contract take?  

It is impossible to predict the future, however it is not unusual for first union contracts to take several months to a year to negotiate.  SEIU Local 73 recommends that we make sure our union contract is on the same 3-year contract cycle as the Professional, Clerical, Technical and Service contracts since we are Stronger Together!

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The full list below can also be viewed and downloaded here.

Eastern Illinois University and Academic Support Professionals UPI expired 2022Academic Support Professional designation shall refer to non-faculty employees whose primary assignment involves:

• Regular, direct interaction with students; and
• Directly supports the curriculum but does not include teaching; and
• Implements University policy; and
• Does not involve policymaking responsibility, budgetary
  authority, or supervisory responsibility, which includes assignment of duties and evaluation; and
• Does not include establishing or developing curricular policy.

Workload

• Assignment of duties is outlined in the CBA.
• Prohibits involuntary overload in assignments.
• Increased workload shall result in a reduction of other duties.
• Annual review of job description and opportunities to update and correct throughout the
  year.
• Special Overload Projects come with additional compensation and have a beginning and
  end date.
• Equal access to summer session employment.

Job Security

• If a grant funded position loses that funding the University shall find alternate or
  equivalent employment and employee has up to three years to be recalled back to the
  previous position if grant funding is restored.
• Layoffs are by seniority and employees have 3 years of recall rights.
• Just cause for any discipline or discharge.

Salaries and Increases

• CBA includes Salary Minimums by job classification, Step increases based on years of
  service and Lanes based on degree.
• Guarantees 6.75% in salary increases during the life of the CBA. That amount will
  increase to 7% if enrollment meets a benchmark.
• Employees can apply for a Performance Based Increase that will be granted to all with
  highly effective or superior evaluations.

Benefits

• ASP are enrolled in the State University Retirement System and eligible for full benefits.
• Free tuition to children, fostered, step or guardian without requirements to have worked a
  number of years.
• Six free tuition credit hours per term is free to employees.
• Two break days per month (24 a year) in addition to sick leave and personal leave; Five
  bereavement days; additional 30 days for parental leave (on top of the 12 weeks by law).
  Western Illinois University and Academic Support Professionals UPI Union expired 2021
  ASPs: full-time appointments as faculty, librarians, counselors, and learning services staff, at the ranks of
  instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor.

Western Illinois University and Academic Support Professionals UPI Union expired 2021
ASPs: full-time appointments as faculty, librarians, counselors, and learning services staff, at the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor.

Workload

• Workloads set by committee of Union members and University management
• Compensation for exceeding class enrollment cap or any overload assignment
• Equal access to summer session employment

Job Security

• The tenure process is codified in the CBA.
• If a position is eliminated the employer must place the employee in equivalent
  employment or they can be laid off with recall rights for up to 3 years.
• Just cause for discipline and discharge.

Salaries and Increases

• Step increases based on years of service and Lane increases based on degree and
  experience.
• 5% increase during the first two years of the CBA and a wage reopener the third year.
• Joint committee set to study market equity to inform University salaries.

Benefits

• Twenty sick days per year, five can be used for personal days.
• The equivalent of sabbatical leave.
• Cap on parking fees.
  Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Academic Professionals Laborers Union
  School of Law as Assistant Deans, Directors, Registrars and Computer Information Specialists. Library Affairs as
  Directors, Editorial Director, Coordinator, Textual Editor, and Specialists. Academic Advisers, Academic Advisers,
  University College Academic Advisers, Coordinator of Recruitment & Retention, Coordinator of Aviation Facilities
  & Enrollment, Developmental Skills Training Specialists, Skills Training Specialists, and College of Applied Science
  and Arts’ Field Representatives

Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Academic Professionals Laborers Union
School of Law as Assistant Deans, Directors, Registrars and Computer Information Specialists. Library Affairs as Directors, Editorial Director, Coordinator, Textual Editor, and Specialists. Academic Advisers, Academic Advisers, University College Academic Advisers, Coordinator of Recruitment & Retention, Coordinator of Aviation Facilities & Enrollment, Developmental Skills Training Specialists, Skills Training Specialists, and College of Applied Science and Arts’ Field Representatives

Workload

• Unit Workload Document for every position outlines responsibilities and time allotted for
  such.
• Job descriptions reviewed annually and can be modified at the request of employees with
  their input.

Job Security

• Just cause for discipline and discharge
• After three consecutive one-year appointments, the University must convert the position
  to continuing appointment.
• If funding is lost for a position(s) the union and University may bargain over the impact
  of the funding loss on AP staff.

Salaries and Increases

• All APs receive the same annual Across the Board increase annually.

Benefits

• Tuition benefits
• Comp time awarded when work week exceeds 37.5 hours
• Up to 43 sick days and 25 to 28 vacation days
  University of Illinois Chicago and Four Bargaining Units with their own CBA: Professional,
  Technical, Clerical, Service and Maintenance Employees of SEIU Local 73

University of Illinois Chicago and Four Bargaining Units with their own CBA: Professional,
Technical, Clerical, Service and Maintenance Employees of SEIU Local 73

Workload

• All hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a week shall be paid at 1.5 the hourly rate of
  pay, or 1.5 hours of comp time for every additional hour worked for non-exempt
  employees.
• Employees may request an update of their job description and audit of their position
  classification.
• Two union employees sit on the Civil Service Board.

Job Security

• Protection against subcontracting of work.
• Just cause for discipline and discharge.

Salaries and Increases

• Guaranteed Across the Board Campus raise every year.
• Annual market evaluations for every title and Up to an additional 3% each year for
  market equity as well as ability to apply for merit increases.
• Binding contract protections for pay equity among employees doing substantially equal
  work.
• Weekend, shift, float and disaster differentials, on call pay and language differentials.

Benefits

• UIC Professionals are enrolled in the State University Retirement System and eligible for
  full benefits.
• Up to 25 or 28 vacation days and 12 sick days.
• Paid time off to maintain certifications or licenses and any fees are reimbursed.
• Limits on parking fees.

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How do academic professionals join their unionized colleagues and win the right to collective bargaining over wages, benefits and working conditions?

1. We organize a majority of Academic Professionals to join our union, SEIU Local 73;

2. We present our majority status to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, which shall designate SEIU Local 73 as our exclusive representative for purposes of collective bargaining;

3. We will survey Academic Professionals on what they want to see in their union contract, elect a Bargaining Committee of Academic Professionals, form our Contract Action Team and;

4. Unite with the 3,000 other UIC employees and bargain our union contract to improve pay, benefits and working conditions.

We Have the Right to Organize Under Illinois Law

The IELRA legislates that it is a violation of the law for the employer or its agents to interfere with, restrain, or coerce public employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in this Act or to dominate or interfere with the formation, existence or administration of any labor organization

Your Employer Cannot

Discriminate in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment in order to encourage or discourage membership in or other support for any labor organization;

Discharge or otherwise discriminate against a public employee because he has signed or filed an affidavit, petition, or charge or provided any information or testimony under this Act;

Refuse to bargain collectively in good faith with a labor organization which is the exclusive representative of public employees in an appropriate unit, including, but not limited to, the discussing of grievances with the exclusive representative;

Expend or cause the expenditure of public funds to restrain or coerce public employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in this Act, discourage public employees or applicants to be public employees from: (i) becoming or remaining members of a labor organization; (ii) authorizing representation by a labor organization.

Your Right to Organize

Pay Gap Study

Did you know about the Pay Gap Crisis between public university workers and Illinois state employees? Check out a comprehensive study by the University of Illinois’s Project for Middle Class Renewal!

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