UIC Updates

Hi Union Sibling,

My name is Latoia Gatewood, and I have worked as a Program Services Specialist at the College of Pharmacy for 12 years. I am a Chief Union Steward, former bargaining team member, and SEIU 73 Executive board member representing UIC Professionals.

esentatives from the College of Pharmacy, the Division of Specialized Care for Children, the College of Medicine at Peoria, the Richard Daley Library, the UIC Culture Center, UI Health Rehab Services, and UI Health Social Work. Despite the differences in our work, we were unified in the fight over the following goals:

• Increase the overall pay
• Honor longevity, education, and special experience (such as bilingual work)
• Protect the work we do and the patients and communities we serve

Pros intend to start bargaining our next contract in late Fall of 2026, so we can settle the contract before its Aug 2027 expiration. We discussed the following plan to build power for the Professionals over the next 18 months:

Step 1: Increase membership 

Right now, about 70% of Pro’s covered by the union contract are actually members of the union. However, unity is strength, so this summer, we want to grow our union and send UIC management a clear and powerful message that we are united and ready to fight for improvements. If you aren’t a member yet, join us and make your union stronger by signing a membership card today!

Step 2: Pros talking to other Pros to increase visibility and overcome the silos that divide us

Over the summer months, my fellow Pros and I will be setting up ‘Pro Power Walks’ to different departments and colleges across campus – we’ll be stopping by offices and introducing ourselves. If you would like to arrange a visit to your specific work area, please send me an email to set something up.

Step 3: Building up our Pro Power committee!

We brainstormed dozens of ideas – building out pro-specific issue surveys, collecting testimonials for social media, hosting a back-to-school picnic or luncheon, wearing buttons, widely sharing departmental union wins, and more – but we need you to help make this happen! Our next meeting will be on Thursday, July 10, at the SEIU office, which is at 300 S Ashland Ave #400.

Pro Power = a better contract for us and your families!

Let’s do this!

In Solidarity,

Latoia Gatewood and the Pro Power Committee