Illinois State University faculty reach tentative contract

From the Pantagraph, April 6, 2025

NORMAL — Illinois State University and its faculty union have reached a tentative contract agreement, averting a strike after more than 13 months of negotiations.

This agreement came on the 10th day after United Faculty of ISU, a chapter of University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 that represents about 650 tenure and tenure-track faculty members, filed an intent to strike with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board following “overwhelming” support for strike authorization.

In a joint statement issued just after 5:30 p.m. Friday, the two parties said: “Over the past year, the University and the Union worked collaboratively to find common ground and reach agreement on a first contract that ensures Illinois State's tenure-track faculty are compensated in a manner that is competitive with our peer institutions.

“The University and the Union appreciate the collaboration and commitment of the negotiating teams to reach an agreement that serves the University and our students. We look forward to continuing to work together to achieve our shared goals.”

The tentative contract will now go back to United Faculty members for ratification on April 18. The terms of the agreement will be released upon ratification.

According to the United Faculty website, the union on Friday expressed its thanks for support from faculty, students and the community.

"Through our collective strength, we have accomplished a monumental victory that will transform faculty lives and strengthen OUR University," the site reads.

Negotiations for this contract began Feb. 28, 2024. Salaries and pay increases were among the final issues being discussed, as well as workload, parental leave policies and university commitments to student mental health resources, the union said last week.

Ani Yazedjian, vice president for academic affairs and provost at ISU, wrote in a letter to the campus community on Thursday that the university was committed to making sure the salaries it offers to faculty are comparable to those offered by its peers in the Midwest.

In a statement Friday morning, Tice Sirmans, associate professor in ISU’s Department of Finance and Insurance and co-lead negotiator for the union, said members were “frustrated and angry” after Thursday’s bargaining session.

But later in the day, another union member told The Pantagraph their negotiations had improved.

This will be United Faculty of ISU’s first contract since its formation in January 2024. ISU has previously stated first-time contracts typically take longer than contract renewals because of the significant number of foundational items to address. A federal mediator has been involved in the bargaining session for the last few months, at the union’s request.

Flickr file of August 4 FUISU demonstration https://www.flickr.com/photos/59632003@N07/albums/72177720324868083