At press time, about 350 Illinois State University workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) were on strike, and ISU president Aondover Tarhule’s responses seemed to have been refusing to negotiate about wages, seeking to hire temporary replacements, and asking the state for more funding.

ISU’s unionized buildings, grounds and dining-services workers went on strike April 8 after 30 bargaining sessions over almost a year, with unresolved issues including staffing and pay.

“We aren’t on strike because we want to be,” said AFSCME Local 1110 President Chuck Carver. “We are on strike because we have to; because the university administration won’t pay fairly.

“Pay for many of these workers starts at just $16.60 an hour; most make less than the living wage standard for a single adult, and they’ve had no pay increase in almost two years.”

Strikers, students and supporters presented a petition with some 7,000 signatures backing the workers, and Ill. Sen. Dave Keohler (D-46th) said, “To President Tarhule and to ISU, Your choices are hurting this university and this very community. Please make a better choice.”

Democratic Rep. Sharon Chong (91st), State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias also visited and expressed support for strikers.

Meanwhile, AFSCME tracked ISU’s efforts to hire replacements, violating Illinois’ Employment of Strikebreakers Act, enacted in 1975, and in a civil suit, the union demanded ISU stop hiring “scabs” or the union will pursue civil remedies and criminal charges.

Also, United Faculty of ISU, an American Federation of Teachers affiliate, filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against ISU, saying faculty were asked to do the work of striking AFSCME members.

On April 23 Tarhule testified at the Capitol in Springfield and requested more state funding.