Leatherneck Nation

I had mentioned in an earlier post I had no confidence in the leadership at Western. I have no respectfor Western's faculty.

As far as joining the labor union if it's mandatory or not- just like most situations. If you don't join life is made difficult for you by labor union members. Easier to join. It's becoming more difficult to support the school when those directly affected don't want to help solve the problem.

Does their contract have protection from being laid off due to lack of work?

If summer courses are cancelled, leave them at home and let them head to the unemployment office.

I understand state owes wiu plenty of money, but just how much funding does the school depend on from the state every year?

sealhall74 wrote:Dumb question but I will ask. Is union membership and/or payment of union dues mandatory for all faculty? If not, what is the participation rate?

You don't have to join, but if you don't mandatory "fair share dues" are taken from your pay, with those dues being in the 90+% range.

vatusay wrote:Does their contract have protection from being laid off due to lack of work?

If summer courses are cancelled, leave them at home and let them head to the unemployment office.

I understand state owes wiu plenty of money, but just how much funding does the school depend on from the state every year?

There are options for closing/merging programs. Ultimately, this is likely how the administration is going to have to get around the Union fiasco. There are currently in an extended contract which only added pay raises for FY16 and FY17. I would hope that the administration will bargain sternly for the new contract, bargaining that should be getting underway soon since even with the extension, what is in place expires June 30, 2017.

Is that union local to Macomb/ Western Illinois or does it have members from any other schools like ISU or UIS?

I understand that not wanting to give up a raise as many probably deserve it especially just a cost of living raise such as 1%, but it is going to come down for them to whether they want to move and try luck at getting hired elsewhere if they get fired or worst case school was to shut down. They must know that if they move it would be out of state as no universities are hiring right now in our state and wont be for a few years at least. I just wish I saw some proactive movement from them, not saying to give up their raises, but at least see them doing press releases and brainstorming ideas and cost saving areas for the school to help out? I mean they are your employer even if you are a group of workers, the employer pays you so if the employer shuts down you lose your job and if you all were to quit the employer would shut down. They each need one another, but some of the union workers do not seem to understand that fully or just are confident in a quick move.

Also, is giving up 1% raise, when already very well compensated, worth risking your employer from folding up? Why not just postpone it. Is 1% worth possibly having to pack up and move your entire family?

Oh and if they are, Good luck in selling their home in a community that half the citizens are out of work....

To expect a pay raise when the university is going into layoff status and mandatory furloughs defies common sense.

WIU0812 wrote:Is that union local to Macomb/ Western Illinois or does it have members from any other schools like ISU or UIS?

UPI itself is bigger than Western, but it is the Western UPI unit that bargains for Western faculty and associated professional staff.

vatusay wrote:Also, is giving up 1% raise, when already very well compensated, worth risking your employer from folding up? Why not just postpone it. Is 1% worth possibly having to pack up and move your entire family?

Oh and if they are, Good luck in selling their home in a community that half the citizens are out of work....

That is a very good point they will be lucky to sell their homes if something drastic would happen can expect to lose major money on their homes/property. Most likely would be moving to a more expensive location as well for cost of living and taxes as most colleges are in large cities which typically cost more all the way around.

Here is the main webpage for the UPI:
http://www.upilocal4100.org/