More Top Picks Gaming Keyboard
player ready...Teachers and administrators at Governors State University are seeking an arbitrator after seven months of negotiations over pay raises have not come to an agreement.
Marsha Katz, president of the UPI 4100 GSU Chapter, said an intent-to-strike vote held by eligible University Professionals of Illinois union members authorizes union officials to strike if talks fail.
“No one wants to go on strike . . . but the yes vote gives our negotiating team the clout to demand a reasonable offer under the eyes of federal mediators,” Katz said.
Of the 153 eligible voters, 126 voted. Members voted 98 to 27, with one abstention for the strike authorization, Katz said.
The union is seeking a two-year contract with a 3.5 percent raise the first year and 5.5 the second year, Katz said.
According to Katz, Governors State’s faculty is underpaid compared with peers at such universities as Chicago State, Indiana University-Northwest and Northeastern Illinois University.
The university has offered a 3.5 percent raise the first year and a 3.75 increase the second year, said university provost Tobin Barrozo.
The university has never had a strike, but came close in 1972, said Connie Zonka, a spokeswoman for the university.