ASFCME Strike

Image taken by Cole Loiacano

NORMAL, Ill. – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1110 represents more than 300 Illinois State University employees.

The employees range from janitorial staff to campus mechanics. At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the AFSCME Union held a rally east of the quad. The rally featured speakers such as Illinois state senator David Koehler, state representative Sharon Chung, Illinois AFL-CIO president Tim Drea, AFSCME Council 31 deputy director Mike Newman and other town leaders. 

At the rally, Chief Spokesperson Renee Nestler stated the union will officially begin a strike at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Nestler spoke to WZND about what the strike will mean for students.

“We’re going to have multiple picket lines scattered throughout campus, and we’ll be withholding labor, which means that cooks won’t be making meals in the dining centers. Bathrooms in the dorms aren’t going to be cleaned. Bathrooms in the classrooms are not going to be cleaned. The grounds aren’t going to be maintained,” Nestler said.  

AFSCME has been in talks with ISU for nearly a year and held its final discussion at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

According to the union, pay for many of these workers starts at just $16.60 an hour, and they’ve had no pay increase in almost two years. Erica Stevenson, a building service worker in Watterson Towers, is one of the hundreds affected. 

“It’s not even just about fair pay. It’s about fair treatment. It shouldn’t take months of marketing and being out of contract. We make less than we should. I want to start a family with my husband and be able to afford to put new tires on my car and pay for things that you need to be able to pay for,” Stevenson said.  

Stevenson called the campus a beautiful place and wants students to know it is because of the full-time staff that watches over all of ISU’s facilities. AFSCME Local 1110 President Chuck Carver also spoke with WZND about the impending strike.  

“We didn’t want to go on strike. We don’t want to go on strike. We want to stay here and keep supporting the students. There ain’t much school left. So again, we’re going to try to get back as soon as we can,” Carver said.  

Nestler has been the primary negotiator for the new union and said what they are asking for is not ridiculous. 

“We’re asking for what would be standard asks in any other contract, that we’ve gotten before, and it’s again, just so our workers aren’t left behind financially any further than they already are. If he [President Tarhule] really wants to improve morale with faculty and staff, he should set our contract down,” Nestler said. 

The rally took itself to Tarhule’s front door, with a large group gathering in front of Hovey Hall. The unions chants echoed through the administrative buildings halls. 

“Pay your workers like you should, Tarhule, you’re no good,” chanted protesters. “ISU pays lousy wages.” 

AFSCME Local 1110 will continue to strike until a deal is reached with ISU administration. Tune into 103.3 WZND for the latest updates and local news at the bottom of the hour.