On March 8 and March 9, faculty members of the Chicago State University chapter of the  University Professionals of Illinois (CSU UPI) Local 4100 are taking a vote on whether to authorize a strike, with the outcome being delivered by March 10. This vote does not mean that a strike is going to occur; but merely indicates whether the faculty and staff represented by CSU UPI would authorize a strike if contract negotiations with CSU are not successful. Those negotiations are ongoing and progress is being made. CSU is committed to negotiating a contract that is fair to not only the CSU UPI-represented employees, but also the entire CSU community. Regardless of the results of the vote, no immediate changes will occur to campus class schedules, events, or campus support. University updates will be delivered to students through the University Relations email listserv.

On March 10, faculty members of the Chicago State University chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois (CSU UPI) Local 4100 informed University leadership that the union had voted to authorize a strike. This vote does not mean that a strike is going to occur; but merely indicates that the faculty and staff represented by CSU UPI will authorize a strike if contract negotiations with CSU are not successful. The negotiations continue to be ongoing and we believe progress is being made. CSU is committed to negotiating a contract that is fair to not only the CSU UPI-represented employees, but also to the entire CSU community.  Regardless of this vote outcome, no immediate changes will occur to campus class schedules, events, or campus support. University updates will be delivered to students through the University Relations email listserv should it be necessary.

Chicago State University greatly values the contributions of our faculty who are core to providing transformational education to the students at CSU. Yesterday, the CSU faculty union University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Local 4100 delivered a legally required 10-day Notice of Intent to Strike, giving the union the option to strike as soon as April 3rd. Since June 6, 2022, CSU and UPI Local 4100 have been engaged in good faith bargaining, including recently under the direction of a federal mediator. As part of this effort, CSU has offered an economic proposal to UPI Local 4100 and is awaiting a response. We hope to receive this at our upcoming mediation sessions scheduled for March 27th and March 30th. CSU is committed to negotiating a fair contract that recognizes the dedication and needs of our faculty while ensuring that CSU can continue operating soundly and providing the high-quality educational services our students deserve.

These actions mean that UPI Local 4100 can choose to strike any time after a ten-day waiting period. The University is fully committed to our students and our primary objective will be to continue normal operations to the fullest extent possible, including minimizing the disruption to instruction, meeting course objectives and ensuring timely grading. Regardless of the notice of intent to strike, no immediate changes will occur to campus class schedules, events, or campus support. University updates will be delivered to students through the University Relations email listserv and will be available on CSU’s Faculty Bargaining FAQs page.

Chicago State University and UPI Local 4100 Union members met until well into the evening today to continue contract negotiations. During the session, the Union rejected CSU’s economic proposal from March 15 and presented a counter. To avoid a strike while ensuring students’ classes can continue uninterrupted, CSU then proposed that both parties enter into interest arbitration. Interest arbitration is a process that would allow both sides to put their positions before an impartial third-party arbitrator for resolution, preventing an unnecessary strike, and allowing students to complete the semester without disruption. Unfortunately, UPI Local 4100 also rejected this proposal. CSU presented Union representatives with an updated economic proposal for consideration, and the Union responded with an economic offer of its own.

Another mediation session is scheduled for Thursday, March 30. CSU does not want a strike to occur. No one wins during a strike – not the faculty, not the university, and certainly not the students. We are committed to negotiating a fair contract that recognizes the dedication and needs of our faculty, while ensuring CSU's long-term financial health and the continued provision of the high-quality educational services our students deserve.

ATTN: CSU Students 

The University is fully committed to our students and, in the event of a strike, our primary objective will be to continue normal operations to the fullest extent possible, including minimizing the disruption to instruction, meeting course objectives and ensuring timely grading. No immediate changes will occur to campus class schedules, events, or campus support.

 

Media Inquiries

Union negotiations are happening at multiple campuses across Illinois, which has brought on media attention. If you are a student or non-UPI Local 4100 employee and are contacted by the media, we ask that you please direct and refer all inquiries to CSU’s Marketing Department at lfinch@csu.edu or (773) 821-4976. 

University updates will be delivered to campus through the University Relations email listserv and will be available on CSU’s Faculty Bargaining FAQs webpage. We encourage you to visit this page to keep up to date on facts related to the bargaining status. 

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

After a lengthy day of negotiations, Chicago State University is disappointed that no agreement has been reached with UPI Local 4100, the Union representing 180 CSU faculty members. While we are still hopeful that a strike can be averted, we must recognize that faculty in UPI Local 4100 have the ability to strike as soon as April 3. 

CSU has held and actively participated in 20 negotiation sessions with the Union bargaining team, and we have reached agreement on significant issues addressing workload and other points that have been raised by the Union. These tentative agreements recognize our faculty while ensuring educational quality for our students and the long-term financial health of the University. At this point, there are only a limited number of issues remaining on the table–a small number of issues that represent large differences in the parties’ positions. 

 

Chicago State University Operations

ATTN: CSU Students 

The University is fully committed to our students and, in the event of a strike, our primary objective is continuing normal operations to the fullest extent possible, including minimizing the disruption to instruction, meeting course objectives and ensuring timely grading. No immediate changes will occur to campus class schedules, events, or campus support. 

CSU is working to cover classes if there is a strike and ask you to do the following:

• Attend all classes and labs unless you have been told they are canceled via Moodle or email. Students should check Moodle and their email for information regarding the status of their specific classes. 
• If you attend a class and an instructor is not there, please wait for at least 15 minutes before leaving and then contact the department or college that houses the class or lab.
• Remember that all campus health care facilities will also remain open in the event of a strike.
• Check your CSU email and CSU’s Bargaining FAQs for updates

If you have questions, reach out to:

• Your department Chairperson. You can find this information by going to csu.edu > Academics > Department (right hand navigation). The Chairperson’s contact information will be under the right-hand navigation menu
• Your College Dean
• College of Arts & Sciences, Dean Elizabeth Davies, edavie21@csu.edu 
• College of Business, Dean Derrick Collins, dkcollins@csu.edu
• College of Education, Dean LaVada Taylor, ltaylor46@csu.edu
• College of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, Dean Matthew Fete, mfete@csu.edu
• Graduate School, Dean Devi Potluri, vpotluri@csu.edu
• Continuing Education, Dean Patrice Boyles, pboyles@csu.edu
• General questions may be referred to ask@csu.edu . This email address will be monitored daily.

 

ATTN: Non-UPI Employees

In the event that a strike occurs, employees who are not represented by UPI Local 4100 are expected to report to work. 

As a higher education and community serving institution, we remain committed to supporting our students during this time. We ask for your cooperation to support our students, campus community and university operations while we continue to work to reach a fair agreement.

While Illinois law permits imposing disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, for any employee who unlawfully participates in: 1) a strike; 2) work stoppage or, 3) work slowdown, we know that your ongoing support of the University in service to our students and campus community will continue during this time.

Check your CSU email and CSU’s Bargaining FAQs for updates. Vacation and sick policy information can be obtained from your direct supervisor. 

For general questions, contact ask@csu.edu. 

University updates will be delivered to campus through the University Relations email listserv and will be available on CSU’s Faculty Bargaining FAQs webpage. We encourage you to visit this page to keep up to date on facts related to the bargaining status. 

Media Inquiries

Union negotiations are happening at multiple campuses across Illinois, which has brought on media attention. If you are a student or non-UPI Local 4100 employee and are contacted by the media, we ask that you please direct and refer all inquiries to CSU’s Marketing Department at lfinch@csu.edu or (773) 821-4976.

We remain focused and eager to return to the bargaining table to work toward a new agreement and to avoid an unnecessary strike. We have contingency plans in place should the Union choose to take this action, but we remain hopeful it will not come to that. No one will win during a strike - not our faculty, not our university, and not our students.

For continual updates, please visit CSU Bargaining FAQs. 

Dear CSU Students,

We know you have questions and concerns about the CSU faculty strike, which we have been told will start as early as Monday, April 3. Our campus is open. All leaders on campus - from the President’s and Provost's Office to our Deans and department chairs - have been working tirelessly to ensure that your classes and services continue uninterrupted. Our primary goal is to support you during this time, and we look forward to seeing you in class on Monday.

Should the union proceed with a strike on Monday morning as it has indicated, you should:

• Attend all classes and labs unless you receive a notice via Moodle or email from the Dean or Department Chair that they have been canceled. Students should check Moodle and their email for information regarding the status of their specific classes.
• Continue to follow your syllabus for each class and timely submit all assignments regardless if your class meets or not.
• If you attend a class and an instructor is not there, please do the following:
1. Wait for at least 15 minutes before leaving;
2. Circulate an attendance sheet;
3. Deliver the attendance sheet to the department or college office.
• Remember that all campus health care facilities and support services will also remain open in the event of a strike.
• Check your CSU email and CSU’s Bargaining FAQs for essential updates.

If you have questions, reach out to:

• Your department Chairperson information can be found here
• Your College Dean information is below and can be found here.
1. College of Arts & Sciences, Dean Elizabeth Davies, edavie21@csu.edu
2. College of Business, Dean Derrick Collins, dkcollins@csu.edu
3. College of Education, Dean LaVada Taylor, tlavada@csu.edu
4. College of Health Sciences & Pharmacy, Dean Matthew Fete, mfete@csu.edu
5. Graduate School, Dean Devi Potluri, vpotluri@csu.edu
6. Continuing Education, Dean Patrice Boyles, pboyles@csu.edu
• General questions may be referred to ask@csu.edu. This email address will be monitored daily.

Thank you for your patience and please ask for help if you need it. You can also turn to the following website for questions on CSU's FAQ page.

Dear faculty, staff, and students, 

We are pleased to announce that Chicago State University and the union representing faculty have reached an agreement on a new four-year collective bargaining contract, which was approved by the union membership on April 27. The economic terms of the agreement were approved by the Chicago State Board of Trustee during a Special Meeting on April 27.

This is the end of a long negotiation process. The parties were able to find common ground on an overall contract that addresses various faculty concerns.

The negotiation teams for CSU, the union, and the independent federal mediator deserve credit for their steadfast work to reach a resolution. I also want to extend my appreciation for everyone who stepped in and stepped up to help keep campus open over the last few weeks. And last, but certainly not least, thank you to our students for your patience and support during this negotiation.

As I have said throughout this process, it has been my honor and privilege to work with our incredible faculty over the past four and a half years. Together we have made incredible progress on advancing our student success and services and our brand as a world-class, community-serving institution of higher education.