Faculty Strikes at Southern Illinois-Carbondale, but Deal Is Struck With 3 Other Unions

November 3, 2011, 11:18 am

The union representing tenured and tenure-track faculty members at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale announced shortly after midnight that it was going out on strike, following months of turbulent negotations with the administration there. According to a statement issued by the union, the SIUC Faculty Association, among the chief remaining sticking points in contract talks are the university’s policies on furloughs, the laying off of tenured faculty members, and allegations of conflict of interest and sexual harassment against faculty members. Early this morning, the university reached agreements with three other collective-bargaining units that had been threatening to strike, those representing non-tenure-track faculty, graduate assistants, and civil-service employees.

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Laura-Dreuth-Zeman/37618214 Laura Dreuth Zeman

It is a sad day when your local goes out on strike. The rank and file are taking a stand for tenure. This administration wants layoff terms that lack transparency and accountability. The FA believes that agreeing to this administration’s position would end tenure.
fncjtg

Just to be clear – a minority of tenure track faculty are on strike at SIU Carbondale. Most faculty are continuing to serve their professions by doing research and teaching students. The noisy minority has walked out on the university and its students – over money.
crudick

To fncjtyg’s point, I am sorry, but that is simply not true. The union has offered to decline their raises over the next three years if SIUC’s financial situation does not improve. The issue is that the administration feels that if SIUC is in a troubled financial situation, they should have the right to fire tenured faculty members. Faculty members on strike feel that this new contract language would effectively end tenure. If you would like to discuss the myriad pros and cons that are a part of this process, please do. However, spreading misinformation not only harms the process of negotiation, but tarnishes the prestige of the Chronicle. If you would like the contention points the union has with the administration please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNiR3b5Sjcg to watch the strike announcement.
crudick

To fncjtg, your post makes two claims: (1) that it is a “noisy minority” of faculty and (2) that it is about money. To the first point, although it is true that it is a minority of faculty it is nearly 40% of faculty who are on strike (nearly 300 of 700 faculty). To minimize the hundreds of voices by calling them a “noisy minority” is disingenuous at best. Also, just because a faculty member doesn’t go on strike doesn’t mean that that particular faculty member doesn’t support the strike. The administration is currently in court because of their illegal anti-labor practices, which has many faculty members afraid to speak out. I think many believe that if the university is willing to commit illegal acts before the strike, then who’s to say they’ll won’t also commit illegal acts against faculty members who strike? To your second point, just repeating empty assertions from your first post doesn’t make it any more true. Please provide facts, statements, or other forms of evidence to support your claim. Anyone can see the youtube clip to see the union statement, where do you get your information from?
msobre

This post below by fncjtg is simply appalling to me. We are absolutely not striking over money. We
are striking over job security, respect, the desire to continue teaching our students with the authority we deserve, and tenure. This kind of
misinformation does not simply represent a difference of opinion, but a
misinterpretation and misrepresentation of fact. I am participating in
the strike as a non-tenured, tenure track faculty member, not as a
‘member of the noisy minority’. Upon my decision to strike, I have
subsequently lost my access to my email, blackboard and salukinet
accounts. I am not receiving payment or benefits, so again I am
concerned by the misrepresentation that this is all about money.
Further, any emails I have sent to my students from my private account
that include the words ‘strike’ or ‘union’ have been deleted, even when
these emails are simply designed to keep students in the loop so they do
not get too anxious (particularly our graduating seniors). I am doing
this because I care deeply about my job and, most importantly, my
students. I am disheartened that this kind of message is being sent
around by faculty at our institution. Please take the time to read up
on the issues before levying such accusations.
msobre

Here is some information that may help to further education on our situation: http://vimeo.com/31662448
dld18

When I travel by car, I always bring my own pillow. Almost any bad bed can be overcome by my own pillow!