CAT Tracks for November 8, 2011
SIU-C FACULTY STRIKE CONTINUES


From the WSIL TV Channel 3 Website...

Link to Original Story


Students March on SIU Campus in Support of Union Faculty

By Stephanie Tyrpak
By Mike Kann

Story Created: Nov 7, 2011 CST
(Story Updated: Nov 7, 2011 at 11:05 PM CST )

CARBONDALE - Negotiations between SIU-Carbondale and the Faculty Association came to a halt Monday night , after more than 24 straight hours of bargaining. Talks are scheduled to start again Tuesday morning.

It's been five days since the Faculty Association and SIU administrators failed to reach a contract agreement before the strike deadline. Three of the unions have a tentative deal, while bargaining continues with the union for tenured faculty.

New negotiations with the help of a federal mediator began Sunday afternoon.

Monday evening, SIU handed the Faculty Association their latest proposal and left, saying they would come back Monday night if the union wanted to accept the contract.

It's a move the union is disappointed in.

Monday afternoon, hundreds of students marched in support of the Faculty Association, calling for the strike to come to an end.

The plans for a student march in support of tenured faculty union began online.

"Kind of spur of the moment late night on Friday," said one of the student organizers Alexandra Kane. "Made an event page on Facebook, and the response has been incredible."

What started as a rally of around 50 students near Anthony Hall, grew as the crowd picketed and shouted their way through campus.

"The administration needs to be more open with why they're laying people off and why they're furloughing people," said graduate student Ryan Campbell. "So I think it is important students come out to something like this and show support for the faculty."

A few blocks later, the crowd of students doubled in size. In the end, hundreds joined the march.

"It shows that people really are interested, and they really do care," said Kane.

Kane, like many of the marching students, is frustrated with the strike situation and it's impact on class.

"It seems like a power play to break the unions," said Kane. "And I support the unions wholeheartedly."

Monday's rally gained a crowd of on-lookers, capturing the event on cellphones and cameras.

A pass through the student center brought out support from the Faculty Association and a complaint about the noise.

While the group is making plans to rally again tomorrow - same time, same place - they're hoping another march won't be needed.

"We just want our teachers back, " said student Megan Skiles. "They're our family, we've been with them from the beginning, and they teach us best."