NEIU Chapter of University Professionals of Illinois

UPI campaign to INCREASE HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING in Illinois is active now. The numbers matter. Please use this link to send letters to YOUR state representative and senator:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/university-professionals-of-illinois-legislative-agenda-2024?source=direct_link&

Fix the Tier 2 Pensions!
This is a week of action to let Illinois lawmakers know that Tier 2 pensions are unfair and not acceptable!

Call your representatives and let them know they need to fix Tier 2!

IFT Presidents Conference in Springfield. Ready to pass all this knowledge and inspiration on to the next generation of UPI leaders and members.

Lots of great ideas among UPI leaders at the IFT Presidents Conference.

Member organizers, Comms team, and Bargaining Team members had a great retreat today. We reflected on lessons learned from the last 2 years of organizing and winning our new contract, and imagined what our future organizing will look like.

Our union siblings in Glasgow, Scotland are fighting layoffs (“redundancies”)! They’re in week 2 of a strike.
WTch this video of their rally.

City of Glasgow Lecturers' Indefinite Strike: Day Six Highlights (Day of Solidarity) Highlights from day six of the all-out action being taken in the local dispute between City of Glasgow lecturers and college management, in the struggle to r...

Tonight we had our first meeting to present elements of our Tentative Agreement to the members. Two more to go! Check your off campus email for details. Lots of good questions.

Nancy Matthews

We turned the press conference about our tentative agreement into our celebration rally!

At 8 p.m. Saturday, after a 10-hour joint session, and daily bargaining all week, the Bargaining Team and NEIU Administration reached a tentative agreement on a collective bargaining agreement for Academic Year 2022/2023 through Academic Year 2025/2026. The Bargaining Team recommends ratification of this tentative agreement by the NEIU UPI membership.

Strike Authorization Vote Passed by overwhelming numbers!
We had a rally today to show the NEIU Board of Trustees that we want positive action on our contract negotiations!

Meanwhile, we stand in solidarity with our UPI colleagues at Chicago State (on strike since 4/3), Eastern Illinois Univ (on strike since April 6), and Governors State (on strike since 4/11).

Today, Inside Higher Education reporter Jaime Adame, published an indepth look at NEIU's struggles:

No quick fix for enrollment woes at Northeastern Illinois Amid undergraduate enrollment declines and harsh criticism from faculty members, Northeastern Illinois University struggles to keep supporting and educating Latino, Black and transfer students.

This morning Lisa Philip, education reporter for WBEZ, did a great story on NEIU struggles!

With enrollment in freefall, faculty at Northeastern Illinois are fighting to preserve their Chicago university Enrollment is down by half over the last decade. Faculty say the school has failed to recruit and support the nontraditional students it has long served.

Our members have demanded that we move forward with a STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE!
If you are a member and do not regularly receive off-campus emails, we need your contact info ASAP.

When we fight, we win.

We do not want to be on strike, but our members are definitely ready!

Our union sibs at Chicago State have declared a strike! Let's support them, NEIUPI!

Illinois AFL-CIO on Twitter “It's . Women lead the world. We can lead strikes. We can organize marches. We use the labor movement to make our voices heard.”

What did we do for International Women’s Day?
We filed a request for mediation in our negotiations with NEIU.
Our employer seemed suddenly enthusiastic about making progress in bargaining, and we said, Sure, we’ll talk some more, but meanwhile we’re requesting a mediator!

UPI members at NEIU!
Come show our support for our bargaining team!
Thursday 3/2 12:30 to 1:15!
Village Square.
Sign making at 12.

Congratulations UIC UF. When we fight, we win.
Well done.

NEIUPI showed up
for UIC United Faculty Local 6456 today. Their strike continues.

Let’s support our UPI siblings at NIU and do this at NEIU!!