Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

UniversityOfIllinoisAtChicagoUIC

By staff

Chicago students fight for reproductive rights.

Chicago, IL – On September 7, 30 students marched at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to demand the administration open a reproductive health clinic on campus that is free for students and the community.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Struggle for contracts continues

Chicago, IL – 2700 workers at the University of Illinois-Chicago were poised to strike Aug. 23. Last minute meetings between the officers of the union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 and the university president resulted in an agreement to call off the strike.

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By staff

Two administrative workers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Jen

Two administrative workers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Jennifer Edwards (left) and Jackie Kurzeja (right), testify to members of the Illinois State Senate, Aug. 11. This spring, both workers lost their jobs after many years because of UIC’s practice of replacing unionized civil service employees with non-union academic professionals – workers who are paid more but have one-year contracts. Hundreds of positions have been lost in recent years because of this. This is the key reason that workers at UIC, members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, have voted to strike on Aug. 23.

#ChicagoIL #SEIULocal73 #UniversityOfIllinoisAtChicagoUIC

By Joe Iosbaker

Tom Terranova habla en una protesta.

Chicago, IL – “Nunca hemos tenido tanto respeto de tanta gente,” dijo Sirlena Perry, luego agregó, “y lo hemos Ganado.” La hermana Perry se refería a la campana del contrato para los trabajadores oficinistas de la Universidad de Illinois Chicago, UIC. Ella es la lider del comité negociador y la principal encargada del local 73 SEIU ( Union Internacional de Empleados de Servicios).

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – El local 73 del Sindicato Internacional de Empleados de Servicios (SEIU) se encuentra en un combate sin tregua con la administración de la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago (UIC).

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By Joe Iosbaker

Pero la lucha para defender a los trabajos sigue

sindicalistas marchan

Chicago Il.– El nuevo gobernador de Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, anunció que el presupuesto estatal falta $5 mil millones de dolares, una semana despues de tomar las riendas de poder.

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By Joe Iosbaker

miembros del sindicato marchan

Los gritos y la música surgió fuera del edificio Illini Union en el plantel de la Universidad de Illinois-Chicago el 15 de Mayo, como 100 trabajadores, estudiantes y apoyadores piquetearon a la reunión de la Junta de Síndicos de la Universidad.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Miembros del sindicato gritando consignas.

Chicago, IL – En la primavera de 2001, 150 empleados de la compañía Sodexho en Chicago votaron a favor de afiliarse con el local 73 del Sindicato Internacional de Trabajadores de Servicio (SEIU). Trabajan en los comedores de los edificios sociales de estudiantes de la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – Un año de lucha ha traído el éxito para los empleados que pertenecen al Local 73 del Sindicato Internacional de Trabajadores de Servicio en la Universidad de Illinois-Chicago. El 17 y 18 de Septiembre. casí 400 empleados salieron a votar, la abrumadora mayoría a favor de un contrato nuevo.

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By staff

“You don’t care about Black People”

Chicago, IL -“I feel about UIC like Kanye West said about George Bush: You don’t care about Black people,” snapped Lou Jones, state representative from Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. She was confronting administrators at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) about charges of neglect by Black and Latino medical students.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – Clerical and administrative workers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) will be taking a strike authorization vote in early January. Over two years have passed since their last raise, and the 1500 employees, including workers at sites in Rockford and Peoria, are fed up. The workers are members of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 73. Management presented a settlement offer to their bargaining committee on Nov. 14. According to Jeff Dexter, lead negotiator for Local 73, that offer falls short of what the workers need.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – In November, the University of Illinois announced they were hiring a new president, Joseph White. He will receive a $450,000 salary – $115,000 a year more than the outgoing president.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – When Willie English heard management say that the bathrooms in his building were dirty, he was insulted. English, a foreman, said, “The number of Building Service Workers in my building is half what it was three years ago, but we take pride in keeping the building clean.”

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By Joe Iosbaker

Tom Terranova speaking at contract rally. Bullhorn. SEIU t-shirt

Chicago, IL – “We have never had so much respect from so many,” proclaimed Sirlena Perry. “And,” she said further, “we earned it.”

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago, IL – Local 73 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are locked in combat with management at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

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By Joe Iosbaker

But the Struggle to Defend Jobs Continues

union members marching

Chicago, IL – The state of Illinois is $5 billion in the red, according to new governor, Rod Blagojevich, who made the announcement one week after he took office in January.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Sign says "No Enron at UIC"

Chicago, IL – 150 workers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) marched against job cuts and layoffs, Aug. 8. Members of Local 73 Service Employees International Union who have had 75 positions eliminated since October 2001, were protesting the announcement of the next round of cuts.

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By Joe Iosbaker

union members marching

Chicago, IL – Music and chanting rose outside the Illini Union building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), May 15, as 100 workers, students, and supporters marched on the Board of Trustees meeting.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Union members on stage chanting.

Chicago, IL – In the spring of 2001, 150 Sodexho food service employees at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) voted to join the Service Employees International Union Local 73. They work in the cafeterias in the student union buildings.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Racist Pay Difference Defeated

Chicago, IL – A year of struggle has brought success for workers in Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). On Sept. 17 and 19, nearly 400 workers came out to overwhelmingly ratify a new contract.

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