Illinois State University Librarians Join in Informational Picket

More than 100 Illinois State University union employees marched Tuesday by the campus administration building - contesting continued salary negotiations, and decrying ISU’s proposed raise schedule...“We’ve been working without a contract since June 30, and we’re working on last year’s wages,” said Karen Dunton, president of Local 3236 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The informational picket was not a strike, she said. The marchers chose Tuesday to tie their cause to ISU President Al Bowman’s state of the university address, she said.

The ISU administration’s negotiators have offered a 2.5 percent raise for the first year of the three-year contract, with the remaining years not assigned a number, said Dunton. Negotiators told her percentages would be equal to what is announced for nonnegotiated ISU staff.

“Each year in his state of the university address, the president says faculty and staff compensation is his No. 1 priority. We want him to keep his promise to each and every one of the university’s employees,” said the union president.

Local 3236 includes about 330 members. These employees represent a variety of the campus’ secretarial and clerical staff, as well as many Milner Library staff.

Of the 330 members, the average income is $28,000 and 110 earn less than $23,000 per year, said Dunton.