Dear Faculty and Staff:

During our March 26 bargaining session with the union representing tenured/tenure-track faculty, the University delivered a comprehensive package proposal on all outstanding issues in an attempt to come to an agreement. By the end of the session, the Union had uncoupled one item from that package and presented a counterproposal on that one item to the University; all other proposals remain with the Union, and we look forward to their responses at our next meeting today, March 30. 

We encourage the Union to continue meeting with us at the bargaining table to resolve all outstanding issues.

Key Outstanding Issues Other Than Compensation

Some of the outstanding issues currently being discussed with the tenure-track faculty union during negotiations include the following. Each of these areas had language in the prior bargaining agreement with definitive expiration dates of August 2025 or earlier.

• Caps on Parking: In the prior agreement, the University agreed to limits on potential parking increases. The University is committed to maintaining safe and functional parking lots for all of the University community. Parking rates for the UIS campus are substantially lower compared to other campuses and generally more accessible to the campus infrastructure. To maintain these parking lots, fees are assessed the same for all employees. The Union has provided a proposal for this successor agreement that establishes parking rates cannot be increased for faculty members covered by this new successor agreement throughout its duration. The University rejects this proposal due to equity and financial concerns and believes that fees for the represented faculty shall be subject to the same regulations and fees as non-unionized staff.
• Release Time for Union Business: The University previously agreed to allow the Union to buy out the chapter president’s time to work on Union matters if approved by the University; this was a Memorandum of Understanding that had a definitive sunset date to which the Union previously agreed. The University needs our faculty fulfilling their work obligations to the University and not to a third party that is not governed by the Board of Trustees; we do not view it as appropriate for the University to pay Union members for non-university related activities. For this successor agreement, the Union proposal requests two course releases (or equivalent) per academic year to be allocated to Union officers of their choosing, including to colleagues not covered by this agreement. It also allows for the purchase of additional releases at a rate of $3,000 per non-instructional assignment. The University’s current package proposal offers the potential for the Union Chapter President to reduce their full-time equivalent/service requirements (meaning a reduction in total percent time in their service to the University, changing from a full-time employee to a part-time employee for their time spent working on Union business)or take a Leave of Absence for Union Business, if operationally feasible.
• Non-Instructional Assignment (COVID NIA): The Union proposes that each faculty member be granted one non-instructional assignment (NIA) within the duration of the successor contract, as they were in the prior contract. This NIA, which definitively expired at the end of the previous contract (8/15/25) that was approved by the Union, was granted for faculty members due to special circumstances pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. The University rejects inclusion of this in the new agreement.

We respect our union-represented colleagues and remain committed to working together to reach an agreement that serves the best interests of the entire University community. For the most updated information on the status of negotiations, visit the Bargaining website.

Jill Wilberg

Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance