AFSCME 1110 wins new contract at Illinois State U after 27 day strike

Ending their four-week strike at Illinois State University in Normal on April 6, an overwhelming majority of the more than 300 building services, grounds, dining services, and other ISU employees represented by AFSCME Local 1110 voted to ratify the new union contract agreement reached late on the night of May 4. More than 95 percent of the votes cast were favorable.

“This struggle was about fair pay, and we won that. Even more importantly, it was about respect, and we earned it,” said Chuck Carver, a building service worker and president of AFSCME Local 1110.

Pay provisions in the contract include an immediate 3.5 percent wage increase and a $1,500 lump-sum payment upon ratification. Annual wage increases of 3 percent will follow on July 1 of 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029—in all, a 16.5 percent compounded increase over the life of the five-year agreement, which runs through June 30, 2030.

ISU top administrators provoked the strike by insisting on two takeaway demands: no pay increase retroactive to last July 1 and no assurance that union members will receive at least the same annual percentage increase as university administrators.

The lump-sum ratification payment exceeds the value of a retroactive pay increase for the average Local 1110 member and is even more valuable for lower-paid workers. Meanwhile, the union preserved the contract’s me-too provision as of July 2028 and going forward.

“The terms of this agreement were available to ISU management on February 10, when union members voted down the university’s takeaway demands, and on April 7, when we met with the mediator before our strike deadline,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said. “Instead, management chose a path of conflict and division that brought hardship to workers, disruption to students, and a stain on ISU’s name.

“In an inspiring display of courage and solidarity—and with the support of students, faculty, staff and alumni, members and leaders of other unions, elected officials and countless others—ISU employees stood up, stayed strong and prevailed.”

Local and state elected officials stepped up to support the strikers. Democratic State Senator David Koehler (46th District) and State Representative Sharon Chung (91st District) regularly stood with union pickets and delivered over 7,000 petition signatures supporting the strikers to ISU President Andover Tarhule. “These workers have played an essential role in keeping Illinois State University running every day, and they deserved their fair share,” said Koehler. “The agreement is an encouraging step for the University, the workers, the students, and the entire Bloomington-Normal community.”

Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen (17th District) also walked the line, along with Republican Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey. Governor J.B. Pritzker urged both sides to negotiate, and supportive messages came from Illinois’ two Democratic U.S. Senators, Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

ISU contracted with the following four firms to hire and send workers across the picket lines.  The Bloomington and Normal Trades & Labor Assembly voted to add these firms to the “do not patronize” list.  Rozalado & Company is a Chicago-based cleaning service.  Go Green Commercial Cleaning is a cleaning company located at 503 North Prospect Rd, Suite 309, Bloomington.  4 M Building Solutions is a national cleaning company; their local office is at 400 Kingsley Avenue, Suite D, Normal.  BGI Landscape and Grounds is located at 2101 Ireland Grove Road in Bloomington. The Assembly recommends boycotting these firms.

As part of the settlement, the union dropped its lawsuit and withdrew the numerous charges of serious unfair labor practices it filed against the university.  Strikers returned to work on May 6. Local unions supported the strikers; some construction trades workers would not cross the picket lines, along with International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 193 members, and the Livingston and McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council organized a food drive for the strikers.