By WMBD TV

NORMAL – Illinois State University’s faculty union is marking one year of bargaining with public action to call for a fair agreement.

It’s been one year since the United Faculty of ISU started negotiations with Illinois State University for new contracts.

“We feel this should have been settled months ago, and we shouldn’t be here today. So we’re here at the rally. We’re here to show support for unity. We’re also here to send a message,” said Associate Professor Mark Zablocki.

Union members said that their message is that university leaders are dragging their feet in negotiations and aren’t serious about reaching a deal. They’re pushing for higher pay and better working conditions.

“The message is, we want to get this contract done. We would like to get a reasonable counteroffer from our administration. We want to get this done in these next three sessions. We’d like to sign a deal and be able to go on with our work and make this institution the best that it can be,” Zablocki said.

But with no agreement in place one year later, they said they’re ready to strike.

“We have a very militant majority of people who have signed on to that. If it does come to that and we’re hoping that it doesn’t and we’re willing to do what it takes to get this contract completed and signed and done with, including walking out and withholding labor,” he said.

ISU leaders argue that since this is the first contract, it will take time to figure it out.

They have three more mediation meetings to close a deal.

WMBD TV can be reached at [email protected].