31 Oct Retro Pay | COPE Info Session | Strike Updates
- Reminder: retro pay for the 2018-2019 school year should have appeared in October paychecks. We encourage you to double-check the amounts for accuracy.
- UICUF COPE holding info session on IFT endorsement process next Thursday, 11/7
- Strike updates: SEIU won tentative agreement | CTU has TA and will return to work tomorrow | Decatur teaching assistants currently on strike | Triton College workers announce 11/6 strike date
Retro Pay
We want to start this week’s message by reminding faculty to check your pay stubs from October. UIC previously stated that retroactive raises would be included in this month’s paycheck, and past experience tells us that despite best efforts, there are likely to be some errors. UICUF encourages our members to double check to ensure that their retro pay is present and accurately calculated. If you think there is an error in your retro pay, we recommend first speaking with your unit or college HR contact, but if this does not resolve the problem, you can contact us at UICUnitedFaculty@gmail.com.
COPE Info Session on IFT Endorsements
Next week, UICUF’s Committee on Political Education will host Illinois Federation of Teachers Legislative Director John Cusick, who will provide information about how the IFT’s candidate endorsement process works. As affiliates of the IFT, our members have a voice in this process, and we encourage faculty to attend the meeting and get involved.
What: Information Session on the IFT Endorsement Process
When: Thursday, Nov. 7, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Where: Rm. 950, University Hall (in the Hist Dept).
Background: Beginning in December and extending through early February, the IFT will conduct a series of meetings with candidates for Illinois office, including but not restricted to the Illinois State Senate and House of Representatives. The purpose of these meetings is for IFT members to ask candidates their positions on a host of issues, including, though not restricted to, educational matters and policies. The meetings are open to all IFT members, and participation by UICUF members in the past has been highly appreciated.
Strike Updates
In other news from around the city, it’s been an eventful few weeks for Chicago’s education and organized labor communities. Chicago teachers and school support staff were forced to go on strike for fair contracts, and a third strike by City Parks District employees was averted at the 11th hour with an agreement they call “the best deal we have ever gotten.” In higher ed, Governors State University faculty and staff won a contract this month, and Triton College workers have announced a November 6 strike date if they do not have a fair contract in hand by that time. Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistants have also been on strike for a fair contract.
As of this afternoon, we’ve learned that all unions involved in the CPS strikes, including support staff and teachers, have reached tentative agreements and will be returning to work tomorrow, 11/1/19. SEIU won a contract earlier this week, but continued to honor picket lines pending an agreement on teacher contracts. Last night, the Chicago Teachers Union reached a tentative agreement on their contract, and today, they reached a return-to-work agreement with Mayor Lightfoot which includes making up five instructional days to cover days lost during the strike.
By all reports, the new contracts are a win for workers at Chicago Public Schools, and we will share more about the specifics of each on our social media channels as we learn more.
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We issue regular updates via email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and on our website. We encourage everyone to like and follow us on social media. If you want to contribute your story, pictures, video, or other content related to the activities of the union, email us at UICUnitedFaculty@gmail.com. With your support, we are making UIC an even better place to work and learn!
