SIUC's tenured and tenure-track faculty remain on strike. Faculty Association spokesperson Dave Johnson says there were no bargaining sessions called by the university on Thursday. He says the Faculty Association's team is ready to return to the table any time. Faculty lead negotiator Morteza Daneshdoost says it is up to the administration to make a counter proposal to the proposals the faculty association submitted on Wednesday.
Three other bargaining units were able to reach a tentative agreement with the administration, but Daneshdoost says he was especially disappointed with the final hours of negotiations with administrators. SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng says she, too, is disappointed with the breakdown in negotiations. She says classes will continue as normal. Cheng also says she's hopeful talks can continue to resolve the contract dispute.
Meanwhile there is a tentative agreement for non-tenure track faculty, civil service workers and graduate assistants. Few details are being released about these deals... but union leaders say they address concerns surrounding job security and other issues.
Thursday Leaders with the Graduate Assistants United said they will hold off on ratifying the proposed contract until the Faculty Association also has a tentative agreement.
