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Two more unions set strike date

BY CODELL RODRIGUEZ
The Southern

Two more unions affiliated with the Illinois Education Association have approved a strike date of Nov. 3.

Friday votes for the Nov. 3 strike date by the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association and the Association of Civil Service Employees mark the second and third such votes. The Faculty Association voted in favor Thursday.

Union officers on Friday said delegates casting ballots voted unanimously to set a date for 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, barring a tentative agreement with the administration.

ACsE President Cyndie Kessler-Criswell said in a news release that the union is "hopeful that it doesn't come to a strike and that we will reach a suitable agreement through the bargaining process."

NTTFA President Anita Stoner said there has been a lot of support from members and even non-union members who believe in what the union is bargaining for.

The NTTFA also named a new vice president to replace Darla Karnes, who resigned her union office last week. The new vice president is Shawna Pope from the department of communication disorders and sciences from the College of Education and Human Services.

Stoner said she addressed the resignation in the meeting.

"We agree at times and disagree at others," Stoner said. "However, the clear majority of our members believe in our cause and in the direction of the organization, and they have convictions that the actions we're taking now will, in fact, help build a stronger university that serves the students well."

Chancellor Rita Cheng said she is discouraged by the decision to set a strike date while teams are still bargaining. She said the administration is working in good faith and will continue to do so to reach an agreement.

"We have worked hundreds of hours to focus on issues to come to an agreement," Cheng said.

The fourth IEA-affiliated union, Graduate Assistants United, is to vote Monday on a possible strike date.