CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Professors and other faculty at the University of Illinois-Chicago are walking picket lines after contract talks broke down Monday, nine months into negotiations.
Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors, one of three national unions the UIC unionized faculty are aligned with, said the major sticking point is minimum starting salaries which, she said, "are outrageously low".
"I don’t know anyone that went into this line of work for the money, but I also don’t know anyone who went into this line of work to be disrespected and taken advantage of," Mulvey said
English Professor Anna Kornbluh said faculty are also fighting for more mental health services for students.
"We continue to ask for the same access to diagnostic neuro-psychological and psychological testing for our students as the Urbana students receive. We believe that’s an issue of institutional parity," Kornbluh said.
UIC Administration said it’s disappointed faculty walked out. Some students have classes if the classes are taught by teaching assistants who belong to a different union and are not allowed to support the other faculty union in a walkout.
Industrial Design student Talia said she supports the striking faculty.
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"I think it’s fine. I think they should have a voice."
Kinesiology student Zedy Adlam backs what the professors are doing.
"I’m all for it. If they recognize that there’s an issue there, then, we have rights to be able to speak up for ourselves and it’s a good thing that they’re looking out for the students," Adlam said.
Contract talks resume today.
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