UIC Updates
Last Updated: 4/23/24
UIC workers need to be strike ready by May
Union Siblings,
We’ve been bargaining since last June, yet we haven’t received economic proposals for all four of our CBAs. It’s clear that management is wasting our time.
Even though we haven’t seen a raise in over a year, the U of I still managed to find $400,000 to pay President Killeen a big bonus in 2024! At nearly $1 million a year, Killeen is already among the top ten highest-paid public university presidents in the country.
All the while, one out of five Civil Service positions at UIC are vacant, leaving students and patients with gaps in services.
Management says they want to be competitive; they say they want to retain employees, but they continue to prioritize private companies over the needs of students, patients, and workers. It’s time for UIC to put their money where their mouth is.
If we don’t take action, we are giving them permission to mistreat us, underfund the essential services we provide, and avoid paying us what we are worth. We need to show management that we are prepared to strike for a fair contract. The time to take a stand is now.
In solidarity,
The UIC Bargaining Committee
Click here to sign the strike petition
Read more about the fight for a fair contract here. We are fighting for:
- Pay increases for all titles in all departments,
- Equitable pay scales competitive with the market,
- Pay to honor education, certifications, and longevity,
- Incentives to cover staffing shortages,
- Protections against privatization.
Latest Bargaining Updates
We started bargaining all four of the SEIU 73 Collective Bargaining Agreements on June 13, 2023. See the presentation we gave to management on our first day with our bargaining goals and approach here. Additionally, we presented our economics proposal to management in October, which you can find here.
Bargaining is open for member observers to attend during times during the day when you are not working. RSVP to attend a bargaining session here.
A union is as strong as the members! So sign up to join the contract action team and take action in our fight to improve working conditions at UIC!
You can find previous bargaining updates under the “Purple Wednesday” tab.
Bargaining Update — April 23
[Español abajo]
Members brought the contract fight to Springfield on Lobby Day last Tuesday. We lobbied, rallied, and marched, delivering a strike petition with over 2,000 member signatures.
UIC felt the heat, and now we’re seeing the results. Because of that member action, management has made significant movement at the bargaining table. Since Springfield, we’ve bargained Clerical (4/19), Technical (4/22), and Service (4/23). So far, UIC has agreed to increase starting pay, address pay equity, and create additional raises for people who have topped out on their steps. Your bargaining committee believes workers have the momentum to settle all four contracts this week and prevent a strike.
But the fight is not over yet. We still must meet to discuss fair pay increases for Professionals and DSCC, Peoria, and Rockford. Among other open issues, we are still fighting for pay premiums for workers at the hospital and we are still fighting for retro pay. The fight is to leave no one behind.
The only way to win fair contracts for all is for members to join the fight. That means members packing the room in bargaining tomorrow and Thursday. Pros will bargain tomorrow on Zoom at 9 AM, and all units will bargain in person at the union hall (300 S. Ashland Ave) on Thursday at 10 AM. Click here to register.
Then, on Thursday night at 6 PM on Zoom, join an all-member meeting to hear updates from the bargaining table and next steps. Register here.
Solidarity Forever,
Your Bargaining Committee
Los miembros trajeron la lucha a Springfield el pasado martes. Nos unimos y marchamos para entregar la petición de huelga con más de 2,000 firmas de los miembros.
UIC sintió el calor, y ahora estamos viendo los resultados. Debido a esta acción sindical, la administración ha avanzado con nosotros en la mesa de negociaciones. Desde la acción en Springfield, hemos negociado los contratos de Clérico (19 de Abril), Técnico (22 de Abril), y Servicio (23 de Abril). Hasta ahora, UIC ha aceptado aumentar los salarios iniciales, abordar la equidad de los salarios y crear aumento adicional para las personas que han superado sus escalas salariales. Su Comité de Negociación cree que los miembros tienen el poder para resolver los cuatro contratos esta semana y prevenir una huelga. Pero la lucha no ha terminado todavía. A pesar de todo, nos falta negociar aumentos salariales justos para los empleados Profesionales, de DSCC, de Rockford, y de Peoria. Entre otros problemas, seguimos luchando por incentivos más altos para los trabajadores del hospital y seguimos luchando por el pago retroactivo. La lucha es no dejar a nadie atrás.
La única manera de ganar contratos justos para todos es que los miembros se unan a la lucha. Eso significa que los miembros deben atender y empacar la reunión de negociación mañana y jueves para demostrar solidaridad. Los Profesionales negociarán mañana en Zoom a las 9 AM, y las 4 unidades de negociación negociarán en persona en el Salón Sindical de SEIU 73 el jueves (300 South Ashland) a las 10 AM. Haga clic aquí para registrarse.
Unete a nuestra reunión de miembros este Jueves a las 6 PM por la aplicación de Zoom, para escuchar las nuevas noticias sobre la mesa de negociaciones y los próximos pasos en nuestra campaña. Registré aquí.
Solidaridad para siempre,
Tu Comité de Negociación
Purple Wednesday Newsletter
To show UIC that we are standing united, it’s time to relaunch #PurpleWednesdays! Participation is easy, just wear your Local 73 purple swag – buttons, hats, t-shirts, or hoodies – or any purple on Wednesdays. Join your coworkers by purpling up next Wednesday!
Your union will be sending biweekly Purple Wednesday emails with updates on bargaining, campaigns, and other important information.
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – April 17
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – April 10
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – April 3
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – March 27
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – March 20
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – March 6
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – February 22
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – February 7
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – January 31
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – January 24
Bargaining Update – January 12
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – December 6
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – October 12
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – August 23
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – July 12
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – June 20
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – June 07
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – May 16
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – May 03
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – April 18
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – April 05
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – March 23
Purple Wednesday Newsletter – March 07
Find Your Union Steward and Staff Representative
Staff at the local are assigned to work with specified buildings, departments and colleges of the university. These assignments may change from time to time. Please see the list below for an updated breakdown of which staff are assigned to which areas and their contact information. If you do not see your area listed below, reach out to Melinda Bunnage, Deputy Director of Higher Education, at mbunnage@seiu73.org.
Cheriell Jackson (CJ), cjackson@seiu73.org
- UI Health
- Outpatient Care Center
- Ear & Eye Infirmary
- Rehab Services dept
- Labs & Pathology dept
- Medical Call Center dept
- Patient Access, Patient Accounting & Patient Logistics depts
- Ambulatory Care
- Chicago’s West campus
- Neuropsychiatric Institute
- College of Medicine Buildings
- Clinical Science Buildings
- Medical Sciences Building
- Marshfield Ave Building
- West Research Office Building
- Chicago’s East Campus
- 715-722 & 704 Maxwell
- Family Medicine Center & Departments
Felix Ortiz, fortiz@seiu73.org
- Division of Specialized Care for Children
- UIC School of Law
- Miles Square Clinics
- Chicago West Campus
- Hospital Building Service Workers
- Biologic Resources Laboratory
- College of Dentistry
- College of Pharmacy
- Miles Square Clinic Main
- Campus Building Service Workers and House Attendants
- Chicago East Campus
- Building Service Workers and House Attendants
Abby Schultz, aschultz@seiu73.org
- UI Health
- UIC Hospital
- Specialty Care Building
- Dialysis dept
- Continuum of Care dept
- Clinical Nutrition dept
- Info Tech Services dept
- Radiology
Andrew Yale, ayale@seiu73.org
- College of Medicine Peoria
- College of Medicine Rockford & LP Johnson
- Chicago Campus
- All East Campus Colleges & Programs (Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Education, etc.)
- Technology Solutions
- Campus Housing
- Campus Facilities (Parking, Telecommunicators, Mail, Procurement
- Healthy Cities Collaborative
- Student Center East & West
- Daley Library & Library of the Health Sciences
- Student Services Building (East)
- Disability, Health, and Social Policy Building (East)
- Human Resources Building (West)
- School of Public Health (West)
- Applied Health Sciences Building (West)
- Administrative Office Building (West)
Look here for a complete list of UIC stewards. Every department should have a steward. If you don’t have a steward in your area, nominate yourself or someone else here!
Contract Enforcement Resources
General Information
- Back to School 2022 Flyer
- Membership Guide Fall 2021
- Meet Your Stewards Fall 2021
- HR Contact Email: uichrscivilservice@uillinois.edu
- COVID Resource Guide | En español
Worksite Issue Report Forms
- COVID Policy Tracking Report Form
- Certification Tracking Form
- Manager Conduct Report Form (Formulario de informe de conducta del gerente)
- Equity Concern Report Form (Informe de preocupación por la equidad de la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago)
Union Contracts & Relevant Policies/Resources
- Union Contracts
- Technical Vacation Payout UIC Communication
- UIC Labor Agreements Page (Wage Scales + Appendixes)
- UIC HR Policy and Rules for Civil Service Staff
- State University Civil Service System
- UIC Job Board
- UIC Retro FAQs
- Signed MOU about Parental Leave
- UIC Presentation on COVID19 Vaccinations & Contact Tracing 9/15/21
- GoTime FAQ
- FAQs on the UI Health Bilingual Certification Process
Steward Information
- Steward & Activist Nomination Form
- Steward trainings will be regularly posted on the SEIU 73 Member Webpage
- Steward Election Petition
- UIC Steward Handbook (password protected)
- Steward Info Request Form (password protected)
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